Ages of Mythology
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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters and so on and so forth
Chapter 6: Trouble's Brewing
The hours rolled on and somehow they ended up even closer. Kagome was in fact resting her head on Inuyasha's arm. They chatted on pleasantly when they heard howls followed by shouting of men. They quickly got on their feet and rushed to the encampment realizing that all the commotion was coming from there…
In a flash they reached the encampment and found and found a massacre… hundreds of angry mountain wolves were attacking the men and ripping them to shred.
"What the hell!" yelled Inuyasha withdrawing his sword and getting in front of Kagome to protect her from an enormous wolf who had jumped in her direction. Kagome ran to her tent and grabbed her bow and a quiver of arrows then rushed back outside to join in the fight.
Inuyasha looked up and saw Kagome busy firing arrows. She had impeccable aim, never missing a shot. Arrows flew out of her bow surrounded with a fine line of blue light. "Must be her priestess powers" thought Inuyasha "Dam she's really good!"
Miroku reached his friend "Hey Yash! Where were you? These dam brutes jumped out of nowhere and started attacking. Weren't these creatures supposed to be mountain wolves that kept away from humans?"
"So I though Miroku… but these seem to have gone on a killing spree!" replied Inuyasha as he drove his sword in two of his attackers.
"Oh by the way" said Miroku elbowing his friend "Where you the one who said girls can't fight?" he asked with a tease lacing his voice "Did you see Lady Kagome?"
"Yeah good isn't she! Makes me swallow my words doesn't she?" said Inuyasha with a laugh leaving Miroku staring… Inuyasha was never one to admit a fault.
Kagome ran out of arrows. Seeing that no one was looking she put her hand in her cloak and magically summoned her sword which she had left on Mount Olympus. It was a magnificant and powerful sword which her mother had commissioned to be made especially for her. It was a thin and sleek sword with a silvery hilt which had been forged from a unicorn's horn. It also had encrusted a moonstone shaped like the half moon symbolizing her mother Arthemis and a shiny rare yellow diamond between the moon's points symbolizing her father Apollo. Around her family's emblem, were, a clutter of tiny precious stones from the other gods, her guardians, an emerald from Demeter, amethyst from Aphrodite, sapphire from Poseidon, pearl from Athena, ruby from Zeus, and so on…All stones held power from their respective god giving the sword immense power. On the blade of the sword where inscribed in fine writing the following words "The greatest power comes from within the hearth"
Kagome was as good a swordsman as she was an archer. Her mother and father had trained her well. She slayed her attackers with precision. Miroku and Inuyasha stared at her.
"She must come from a rich and prominent family… Look at her sword!" mused Miroku
"Good think she's not an enemy. She's sure been trained well," replied Inuyasha.
After what seemed like hours of arduous fighting the last of the wolves ran away in defeat. Inuyasha walked around the massacre to see the damage they had sustained. 34 men were lost and another 48 grievously wounded. They spent the night burning dead wolves and burying their men.
When all was done Inuyasha sent his men for a few hours rest and summoned Miroku and Kagome to his tent. They sat around his table with mugs of steaming tea.
"Well… this attack has done us quite a good deal of damage…" said Inuyasha gravely.
"It was unexpected" added Miroku "it wouldn't have been that bad if we were on the alert."
"I didn't organize guard shifts as this is the first night and only a day away from our village… I wasn't expecting any attacks…" snarled Inuyasha as he slammed his fist on the table.
"Yash it's not your fault… the wolves were just a turn of bad luck… they've got nothing to do with our mission or anything, "said Miroku trying to calm his friend " What do you think Lady Kagome?"
"Well… I don't think we should take any risks. I suggest we organize a shift of at least 10 soldiers around the encampment. 2 in each of four posts north south east and west, and another 2 encircling the camp." She said.
"We'll do that" decided Inuyasha "The three of us can take the first shift tonight and let the men rest."
"There's no need for that Inuyasha" said Kagome "I made sure nothing can happen tonight…erm… I've erected a barrier with my priestess powers… err to protect all us… I'm afraid it can't hold for long so I won't be able to do this frequently as it drains me out… but it should hold for these couple of hours while we rest."
"Thanks Lady Kagome" said Miroku "and allow me to compliment you on your fighting skills as well as deepness of thought, " as he kissed her hand.
Kagome withdrew her hand from his grasp in surprise "Erm….. thanks, I guess…"
"Cut the crap Miroku and go to bed!" said Inuyashsa with a warning tone to his friend.
"Inuyasha… what about the wounded?" asked Kagome in a worried tone.
"Well... since we're only a day away from home, we'll spare two or three men and one of the carts and take them all back they should manage to make it there. Now we should rest!" he added with finality.
Kagome walked out of Inuyasha's tent and walked slowly to her own. She sat down on her cushions and took out her sword and stared at the moon thinking of her mother. A sparkle of white light appeared in her tent and her sister Kikyo appeared. She ran and embraced her sister Kagome.
"Oh Kags… I was so afraid for you!" she whispered hugging her sister tight.
"Kikyo! What are you doing here! Not that I'm not glad to see you or anything but you know the rules!"
"Don't worry Kagome… I was given permission to come here. But tell me.. you weren't hurt or anything were you?" turning her sister around to check for herself for any damages.
"Calm down Kikyo! I was trained to fight you know… it was no big deal… " said Kagome smiling at her sister's worried face.
"Listen Kags… I don't have much time… here take this " she said handing her sister a delicate white gold chain from which hung a tiny moon pendant with a diamond star in it's points " your mother wants you to wear this all the time to protect you. She cast a defense spell on it to create a barrier around you in case of emergencies and also she can keep track of you. "
"Thank her for me and give her a big hug… I'm sure she's very worried. Dad must be going bonkers with her bugging him with her worries…" mused Kagome thinking fondly of her family as she hung the chain around her slender neck.
"Now Kagome… you must listen to me… there's something bigger than you think going on… I think Zeus' suspicions were true…I'm trying to find out all I can. Promise me you'll be more on the alert and try to keep as safe as possible!"
"You know I'm always careful Kikyo." Assured her Kagome "And you try to be careful with your investigations… I have a bad feeling about this… and I know you very well Kikyo … I can see you're very troubled about something you're not telling me about." She added looking thoughtfully at her sister.
Kikyo's eyes widened in surprise and for a moment Kagome thought she saw panic lurking in those icy blue eyes of her sister... Then Kikyo face saddened and she looked down. She grasped Kagome's hand with her own trembling ones.
"I'm sorry Kags… I'm soo sorry…. If only I could… I…I … I've got to go…I can't say anything… I've got to go…just promise me that whatever happens you'll always have faith in me… promise me!" she pleaded.
Kagome was very surprised at these words…She hugged Kikyo tight and whispered in a comforting tone… "You know I'll always believe in you and I'll be right here for you whenever you need me!"
Kikyo hugged her sister back on last time then slowly faded away whispering "Take care!"
Meanwhile, Inuyasha tossed and turned in his bedding. He was dreaming of the night's event. He sweated profusely as he saw each one of his fallen men being slaughtered by the wolves knowing very well it was his fault for not being careful enough and stationing guards. Then in a flash the image changed and it was his brother Sesshomaru being chased by the same wolves, reaching his destination and finding the demon wolf tribe slaughtered.
He woke up with a start with the touch of a hand on his cheek. He saw Kagome facing him with a worried look in her eyes.
"Inuyasha" she whispered "are you all right? I could hear your tossing from my tent"
"It's nothing… I'm fine" replied Inuyasha unconvincingly.
"Don't worry… your brother's gonna be fine" she said soothingly.
"How do you --- ?" started Inuyasha
"I heard you say his name… I'm sure he's all right, he's strong…I miss my sister too you know… it's the first time we've been separated for so long."
"You have a sister? Younger or older?" he asked curiously
"Neither "laughed Kagome "We're twins"
"Well she's lucky if she's as beautiful as you" he said surprising himself as the comment slipped his tongue… he wasn't one for compliments.
"Oh no… my sister is the beautiful one not me" replied Kagome.
Inuyasha stared blankly at her thinking she was joking then realizing she really meant what she said.
"Here I'll fluff that pillow for you maybe you'll stop having nightmares then… " she smiled as she grabbed his pillow and fluffed it out.
Inuyasha looked at her and smiled. "Thanks…I'll be OK now."
A few miles away Sesshomaru was up and ready dressed having breakfast wondering how his brother was doing. His long and faithful family servant Jaken refilled his cup of tea.
"Thinking about Inuyasha sir?" he asked recognizing the look on his master's face. "I wouldn't worry all that much sir" he mused smiling "Inuyasha knows how to take care of himself."
"I know… I know…" said Sesshomaru sounding very unconvinced.
A/N that's the end of this chapter… the next one will be focused on Sesshomaru's journey… As always please review, review and review.