"So, why did Kuma help Inuyasha and Sesshomaru with the whole mating situation?" Kagome asked.
Lao made a sound. Apparently he couldn't speak while in his fox form. But Shippo was able to translate.
"He says she hated seeing them suffer. And once she overheard their story, she decided she wanted to help. She apparently has a tendency to play matchmaker in the clan."
"But how did she know to take the Tessaiga?" Inuyasha frowned.
Lao answered. Once again a strange sound only foxes can make. Shippo sighed.
"He says she didn't know it held power over your inner youkai. But she knew it's simple enough to draw out the youkai's basic instincts by disarming you and then putting you in a situation where you were powerless."
"Smart, I guess?" Inuyasha didn't like it one bit.
"Yeah, she's lucky she's a spirit." Shippo grumbled mostly to himself.
One of Lao's large ears turned, hearing what was said. He made a strange growl. Many turned to Shippo, who blushed.
"He told me I have a lot to learn. He called me an infant." His face beet red.
"Compared to him, you pretty much are." Kohaku snickered.
"Hey! You're one to talk!" Shippo glared.
"At least I know when to keep my mouth shut." The young demon slayer countered.
"Why you - " Shippo tried to leap towards him. He didn't get far when Inuyasha gave him a nice new bump on his head, earning a yelp.
In the same instance Sango sent a glare at her brother. He lowered his head when Sesshomaru eyed him briefly. Sango of course noticed this, but didn't voice her thoughts.
"Owie!" Shippo cried, rubbing his head.
"You forget he's part of Sesshomaru's pack." The hanyou huffed. "Don't go starting fights outside our own, otherwise I won't interfere unless they're actually going to kill you."
Shippo glanced up at Sesshomaru. Sensing he was being watched the daiyokai met the young kitsune's gaze. Shippo went scared stiff. Gathering his strength he climbed onto Kagome's shoulder.
"Speaking of, what's going to happen after the honeymoon phase? Are we going back to two different groups?" Miroku wondered.
The mated pair shared a look of uncertainty. At this moment they weren't sure. They hadn't put much thought that far ahead. For they were too eager to take care of the situation they were in then get back into their honeymoon and fully experience their bond.
"Guess we'll see when it happens." Kagome sighed. She supposed it was too much to hope for a plan.
Soon they arrived at a large, circular door. Lao transformed back to his more humanoid form. Kenji moved closer, studying the runes.
"I know this. On the other side, Asahi tried to decipher the runes." He remembered his brother coming here often on the other side.
"I tried calling out to him several times. He could only faintly hear me. He felt the pull to this door, but didn't understand what was needed of him. I knew from a young age he stood a better chance of hearing me." Lao explained.
"Pft. I always thought he was crazy, always coming to this thing. Now that I understand, I wish we learned sooner." Kenji glanced down at the kitsune. "So how do I open it?"
"Cut your palm, and then press it to the middle there. Big enough for a hand to be placed. It should only need a couple of drops."
"...This better not be any trick." Kenji reached for one of the twin blades.
"I assure you there are no tricks. I am a helpful fox." Lao promised.
"We'll see about that if this opens like you say." He grimaced as he cut into his palm. The scent of blood permeated the air. Kenji placed his twin blade back in its spot then held up his bloodied hand to the spot.
The runes glowed bright red. And the rock around them shook. The circular door groaned as it slowly began to open. Kenji pulled his hand away in amazement as fresh air flooded inside.
Once it was fully opened everyone rushed outside to breathe in the fresh air. The last to leave were Kenji, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. They were amazed that it actually worked. Meanwhile the others rolled in the grass or stood tall, breathing in the fresh air or feeling the sun on their skin.
"Ahhh~ Never thought I would miss grass!" Shippo was rolling back and forth.
"It feels so good to breathe!" Kagome stretched.
"It sure felt like it was more than two days being stuck inside that mountain." Miroku sighed, taking the moment to enjoy the freedom. His hand had another idea, and it earned him a loud slap and a nice red handprint on one side of his face.
"Freedom! Oh, I thought we would never escape!" Jaken laid down, feeling the grass and the sun's warmth.
"See! I told you we would, Master Jaken!" Rin smiled, gathering flowers.
Kenji searched for Lao, only to find he completely disappeared. He supposed that was just as well. He had to focus on finding the survivors that the ancient kitsune mentioned.
"Where would the survivors go?" Sesshomaru wondered.
"There's a village not far from here. I suspect that would be where my cousin Takumi would round everyone up to make plans to take back the castle." Kenji took the lead.
The large group followed him. In the distance a ways was the walls of a grand castle. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru tensed. They could smell the rot that was Naraku coming from that castle.
"It is Naraku. I know that scent anywhere." The hanyou snarled.
"Well, at least we know who we're dealing with." Kenji glanced at his companions. "What is he, anyway? We've heard whispers of him, but not exactly what he is."
"He used to be human. Then he merged with a bunch of demons and became a half demon. Born in his place is Naraku. He toys with everyone he comes across. You already saw what he's willing to do to torture people." Kagome explained.
"Yeah. I just hope he hasn't done that to my brother." Kenji turned forward with hope.
At some point they could see a village. At the sight of it still intact, hopes were rising. Kenji halted just on the outside, he was growing suspicious that they haven't seen anyone. He glanced around.
The village seemed dead. No movement. No sounds of life. And yet he can smell that it wasn't empty. Among the scents, he recognized a number of people.
"I can smell them. Maybe they're suspicious of us?" Kenji frowned. He began a series of whistling tunes. Something he knew Takumi would hear and understand it really was him.
When Kenji stopped, he waited to hear a response. After a long moment it almost seemed like he wouldn't get one. Then just as he felt his heart sink, he heard several whistles answer.
And like that the village came to life. They all cheered that one of their lords came back. A mated pair rushed towards Kenji and embraced him. He hugged them back tighter, laughing.
"Takumi! Emiko!" He lifted them up to twirl once before putting them down. Kenji was grinning when he released them and turned to his companions.
"Sesshomaru, Inuyasha. This is the mated pair I spoke of. My cousin Takumi, and his mate Emiko." He introduced.
He was a little taller than Kenji by three inches. Long dark hair, tied up in the same fashion Kenji had before the braid. Meanwhile the top of Emiko's head was at Kenji's eye level. She had red hair, and red ears similar to Inuyasha's. Her blue eyes held a kindness in them.
"A youkai and a hanyou pair! Just like us!" Emiko was excited. She smiled at them warmly. Takumi raised an eyebrow, recognizing the names of one of the new pair.
"If Lord Asahi lives, he's not going to be happy, cos."
"Yeah well he's gonna have to suck it. These two went through hell and back to become mates." Kenji proclaimed, and it was enough for everyone to know he will stand up for them if need be.
"How did you get here so fast? We heard news the men who went with you died, we assumed the worst." Takumi inquired.
"I was wounded. But I met Sesshomaru after we made a deal. He graciously agreed to allow me to accompany him to redeem myself."
"Redeem yourself? What did you do?" One of the other youkai asked.
"Er...Let's just say I'm not proud with what I did." Kenji grew nervous.
"Do we have any plans of attack?" Sesshomaru decided to move the conversation along.
"Yeah. Come on." Takumi lead the way.
He lead them to a makeshift war room tent. In the center was a table with a map of the entire castle. Emiko kept Rin busy outside. Everyone gathered around for a good view. Jaken however couldn't see, so he sat down grumbling to himself to listen.
"This fortress was built with the mountains in mind. There is only the gates that can gain entry inside. But, there is a secret entrance. The problem is that it's narrow, and our strongest can't use it as a means to slip through. It's better for our archers. But because we didn't have enough of a frontal force, we haven't made any moves yet to take back the castle."
Takumi pointed out a secret passageway. It looked like it lead straight into the main room where the lord sat to view anyone's problems. Or hold meetings with those he trusted.
"You couldn't get to my brother?" Kenji crossed his arms.
"He insisted I help everyone else first. A barrier was placed around him. I don't know who created it, but I knew it was meant to keep him safe. If the barrier hadn't appeared I wouldn't have left him, cos." Takumi looked guilty.
"I think I know who created the barrier. For now our focus should be keeping Naraku occupied."
"So then we'll be the main distraction while the archers sneak inside." Inuyasha knew they could pull it off.
"You sure you lot can do it? You don't look like a front assault kind of group." Takumi had his doubts.
"I've seen them fight. They can hold their own. And they've fought our enemy before. I'm just curious, how did he sneak inside?" Kenji studied his cousin.
"I'm not sure. I think he took the form of one of the servants. I noticed one of them began to act weird. Lord Asahi began to complain he smelled something funny. I tried to investigate, but before I got far Naraku made his move. He poisoned Asahi in his bedroom, then moved to the courtyard and began to attack everyone he saw."
"That sounds like Naraku all right." Inuyasha commented.
"But, why would he target the castle?" Miroku wondered. "This is the most remote area to get to. If he wanted to be a big target, he would have gone after something more familiar to Inuyasha or Sesshomaru."
"Why does Naraku do anything at this point? He's growing too arrogant in his power." Sesshomaru spoke flatly. Some part of him recognized that Naraku targeted the hardest regions just in the name of conquering because he could.
"It's been a long time since I've sensed a lone Shikon Jewel shard. He might have most of it by now." Kagome speculated.
"If that's the case then he will target Kohaku." Sesshomaru glanced at the boy.
"What, are you saying I'm staying here? But I want to fight! I have every right just like the rest of you!" He argued.
"But then it would mean bringing him what he wants!" Sango argued.
"And if he sends someone into the village while everyone is off fighting? What's going to happen if I'm the only one who can fight to protect everyone who can't fight?" Kohaku had a valid point.
"...I know of someplace that's safer for everyone. But it might piss off Lao and Mauntenrodo." Kenji had an idea.
"Who?" Takumi was confused.
"That would be too risky. What if Mauntenrodo gets furious and acts out again? Then either the castle will be buried, or everyone behind the sealed door won't see the light of day again." Miroku frowned.
"I might have to talk to Lao and see. If he can't talk Mauntenrodo down then the boy has to come with us to the fight." Kenji couldn't see any other option.
"Again, who are you talking about?"
"Oh yeah, we used to worship the mountain, cos. It has a messenger named Lao, a kitsune that my father sealed away inside the mountain to hide the shrine to Mauntenrodo."
"...You know, that explains my grandmother so much now. Talking nonsense about the mountain." Takumi recalled some of the weird conversations he had with her before she passed on.
Several stomachs voiced their hunger. A number of people nervously sweatdropped. Kenji sighed.
"Cos, can you help them find a means to sleep and eat? I need to go back to the shrine and talk to Lao."
"You don't have to leave. Now that the seal is undone, I have a little more freedom." A familiar voice spoke up, startling most. "Oh, and Mauntenrodo won't agree to your idea."