Chapter 3
The trip back was a simple magic jump for Kagome and Sumi. They landed in the entrance of the compound where there was two large wooden poles with engraved enchantments supporting the barrier around the place. She takes her time to place her hand on each post and infused some her aura into them strengthen them. "Was that necessary?" Sumi questions. Kagome opened her eyes while pulling away from the last post, "Yes, I will be gone from this place to do battle. The least I can do is strength it from protection."
They stepped into the compound noticing all the Higurishi Clan getting ready for the battle orders. In the middle of the battle arena, Bak barking orders and trying to direct things to be ready. He made eye contact with her in middle sentence, "All arms, ATTENTION!" He continued barking, "Our Lady has returned and will now be giving final orders." Kagome moved through the crowd of soldiers to the arena with Sumi in tow.
Bak bow slightly to her before giving her the center of the arena to speak. Bak stepped back to join Sumi at Kagome's side as Kagome steps forward to address everyone, "I want to thank every one of you for joining me today. I have news the west has indeed fallen and the enemy will be heading this way in the next few days. They wish to conquer this strong hold. The Higurishi Clan's duty to protect the balance of this world from all threats. My personal stealth team and I will be deployed to assist the west and other territories to battle this threat and will win even if it cost us our lives. The rest of the clan will stay here to battle the army coming to our door. Anyone who wishes to not partake in battle will be given passage to Edo Village. They must leave within the hours."
With not another word, she turns signaling Sumi and Bak to follow behind her and into the main building. They walk down to the ground hall where she found the general and her son at the sitting around the fireplace. The general greets her and the others with a smile then she turns to Bak, "I want you go round up the remaining band of seven and Sango and Miroku and bring them here please." He nods his head and retreats out the door to carry out her request.
Sumi and she approached the general in the grand hall and Kagome held out her arms silently asking to hold her son. General Higurishi couldn't help but quietly chuckle at his daughters needs for her son. He moved close to Kagome, hands off Kiseki into her arms. She gently rocked him while cooed and made eye contact with her with the same vibrant blue colored eyes she had. Sumi spoke, "So where do we go from here?" She continued to rock her son while looking up at both them, "I have debrief my team before we journey to the west." General Higurishi questioned, "Who will you be taking with you?" Gazing at her father, she continued, "Sango and Miroku will staying within the compound defending it while I'm gone. I need their combat skill and knowledge here. Bak and Jak will be accompanying me on extraction mission in the west with Sumi and me.
The general wasn't liking this decision so he spoke up, "Are you sure that's wise? The monk and demon slayer had been retired for many years, Kagome. They have a family now." Kagome replied with confidence, "I know that, but I don't trust anyone else with this place but them. And the demon slayer village doesn't live very far from here. They can be here within the hour and send their family to Edo Village to Kaede." He couldn't argue with her logic so he left it at that.
The day progressed into the midafternoon when Bak returned with the six individuals she requested. Suiko, Miroku, Sango, and Jak filtered into the grand hall on each side of Bak, circling around the general holding Kagome's son, Sumi and Kagome. Kagome stepped forward to address them, "Thank you for coming on short notice. I have great matter to discuss with you and I hope you all will assist me. Sango interrupted her, "Kagome, what's going on?" Kagome gave her weak smile, "The west has fallen and Lord Sesshomaru will be executed in a matter days. Sumi, Bak and Jak will be accompanying into the west to extract Sesshomaru. The enemy will be traveling this direction to destroy this company. I need you and Miroku to be in charge and defend this place. Can you do this my friends?"
Sango's brown eyes got wide as she held the breath in her throat. It has been years with the jewel since she and her husband had seen battle. She had a family of three young children to worry about. She began an internal struggle of what her answer would be. Miroku sensed his wife with her struggling emotions and spoke up, "What will be the accommodation will there be for our family if we give assistance? Kagome and Miroku held each other's gaze a few moment before she replied, "There is a group heading to the Edo Village at the end of the day. I have made arrangement for them to be transported to that location to be with Kaede and your brother if you accept." Miroku put his hand on Sango's shoulder, getting her attention and she looked back him, "Sango, Kagome has given her protection and kindness freely to us and our family over this years. Don't you think its time we tried to return the favor?" Sango found the right answer in her husband's eyes and could only nod. "We accept your offer, Kagome. But if anything happens to my twin girls and son I will be holding you personal responsible." I wouldn't expect anything less from you my friends." She reached out her hands and Miroku and Sango moved forward giving each other a welcoming hug to sill the deal.
Once they released each other, Kagome's aura rose up slightly and her eyes glossed over to pure white. Her breath became heavy as the celestial symbol appearance below her feet. Bak and Jak pulled Sango and Miroku back from Kagome immediately. "Whats happening?" Sango panicked. The general answered, "Kagome is in a trans and having a vision. She hasn't hurt anyone yet but we take precautions when it happens." Everyone stood back and watched as Kagome collapsed all the floor while giving off quiet cry of pain.
Kagome found her back in the western dungeon. She heard a harsh crack sound of whip from behind her as she turned to the sound she gasped in horror. Sesshomaru was strung up in the middle of the cell by chains facing her. Another crack of the whip hit his back and he bite his lip from making a sound more than a grunt. A dark chuckle came from behind him to male of long dark blue hair from what she could tell.
Most of his features were covered from the darkness of the room but she couldn't forgot the black emotionless eyes he had. He stood as tall as Sesshomaru if she had to guess. The whips he held sizzled with a burning poison substance. "I have to say, Sesshomaru, that the blood line is impressive. You have come to with stand every poison made. Your bitch of a mother would be so proud of you. Perhaps I should send her something to remind her of you. A small limb or something?" Sesshomaru only response was another grunt trying to stay conscious within his chained bindings.
The male let a growl while coming around to the front of Sesshomaru to face him, irritated from his silence, grabbing a fist full of his hair. "Just tell me where she is. I am a reasonable man. I will show you mercy and end this suffering." Sesshmaru for the first time in long time let out horrific growl, staring him in the face, "She is mine to protect and will never be reached by you." He gathered saliva in his mouth mixed with his blood and spit in the angry male's face. This demon male wasted no time grabbing his knife from his side and reached behind the bottom of Sesshomaru's neck, "Have it your way, My Lord." Without another word, the knife surged forward, cutting off Sesshomaru's hair at shoulder length.
Growling in triumph, the demon male sheathed his knife and turn to the guards, "Collect his mane and send it to his mother and drag him back to his cell." And without another word, the male left. Kagome's ghostly form covered her mouth with tear coming from her blue eyes, horrified to the scene.
The group in the grand hall watched as Kagome's behavior became worth from soft cries to screaming and her fist clenching on the floor while she was on her hands and knees. They couldn't do anything but watch her get through this. Sango was held in Miroku's arms protected by his barrier and keeping her from going to Kagome. Bak, Jak and Sumi were to stand in the corner of the room and wait for orders.
Kiseki cries turned to a howling listening to his mother's cries. The general move toward to door to remove him from the room when his grandson's aura pulsed in his arm, having him release him from his arms. Kiseki floated to the floor, crawled out his blanket and made a speeding movement to his mother. Once he was in reach of his mother, he gave another howling cry, reached out, and began tugging out Kagome's raven lockes. Sumi couldn't help shed tear for the heart break scene she watch from the loyal bond Kagome and new western heir had.
Kiseki was suddenly swept up into Kagome's arms and rocked gently. Kagome sat up on her knees while trying to calm her child. Her eyes no longer glossed over and full of tears. "Mama is ok…I promise." She whispered to her son, cuddling him with kisses. Once his cries died down, she looked up at everyone's questionable faces in the room. "I'm done playing nice with these assholes. We leave tonight. Bak, Jak, and Sumi collect your personal effects for the trip and meet me at the entrance." They could only nod and leave the room without haste.
The general approached her with Kiseki's blanket. He watched her for few moments for any signs of distress while Sango and Miroku joined them. "Kagome, what did you see?" She took a deep breath, "One of Sesshomaru's tortures. Miroku and Sango you are welcome to stand in my quarter while I am. Father, take Kiseki with Totsai and Myoga at the first sign of light to Inu-kimi." She handed her son off to her father and left the room the find a place to mediate without another word.