Chapter 39: And We March to the Drums of War

Pennons and standards flapping gaily in the brisk pre-dawn air, Izayoi walked quietly next to her husband at the head of the long line of beings leaving the palace to walk through the main thoroughfare of the city below it. She was surrounded by the other Lords as well as Atsushi's wife Naomi and of course Satori, as her mate was already on the marshaling field forming up what remained of Touga's army here in the citadel in preparation to move out, and a silent Sesshoumaru, as well.

Despite the ugly truth of what they were all heading for, she couldn't help but feel the excitement at marching at the head of an army, just as she had when she'd gone into battle with her father's troops earlier in the summer.

However, she also couldn't help the warning thrill that flashed across her senses – this war would be a great deal different and much more dangerous than that fairly easy battle had been. There was no telling how many of those marching from Kangetsu would actually be returning when this was all over – if any of them did, for that matter. There were no guarantees, since Ryukotsussei was a very dangerous opponent and so were his allies and armies.

But she once again firmed her determination – they would triumph. There was no other acceptable outcome.

Despite the awesome amount of beings on the field preparing to head North, she was well aware that most of the West's actual soldiers were already in position at the border, and that most of the ranks of those she was traveling with were simply citizens of Kangetsu and the West who were not only eager to go up against their nemesis, but also ordered to, as well as the warriors of the South and East. Touga would not use his soldiers simply to protect beings who were too lazy to fight for their homes, like Teruko. When it came down to a war between Cardinal Lords, all that could do so would fight, for every last person would be needed.

Despite what seemed nothing more than uncontrolled chaos on the field once they arrived, Izayoi was interested to see that they took very little time to be ready to march, everyone falling into place quickly and fairly quietly. As the Lords arrived and readied their troops the noise level actually fell, unlike what would happen with a human army, and before long you could almost have heard a pin drop as everyone looked to the Lords for the word to begin marching.

Touga looked out over the field of combined armies for several seconds, and then raised his voice to a great roar to shout to the edges of the field the order to march. "We march! To the detriment of the dragon, we march!"

A swelling roar of voices raised in counterpoint answered him, and as the leaders of the great army turned away, the ranks of all those behind surged forward to close the gap and the greatest gathering of youkai to take the field in war in centuries began the swift march that would take them to the Northern borders – and the beginning of what would one day be known as the end of the once powerful race of dragon youkai.

Izayoi closed her eyes briefly as the pace picked up as the army made their snaking way through the edges of the city to the great gates, gathering her store of reiki and feeding it into her muscles in a careful, continuous flow, thereby giving her the energy needed to keep pace with youkai. It would feed through her muscles in a steady loop, making sure that her human body did not begin to break down as it was called on to do things it would not normally be capable of. She was well aware of Sesshoumaru's eyes on her, and knew that he would be watching her as closely as possible throughout the coming engagements to see if all that she had claimed that she could do, she did. He would give her no quarter, and she knew it – if she faltered or failed he would close his mind against her permanently.

She vowed quietly to herself that she would not only vindicate her own words to him, but even outperform what he was expecting from what she had said she could do. She would not give him cause to continue to revile her.

It wasn't only Sesshoumaru, though; she was more than aware that almost all those here would be watching her performance, judging every move she made and even everything she said. She was on trial, now, and her future living here in Kangetsu and in the youkai world was at stake – if she failed, she would come under constant attack by all those that lived here or even anywhere else and would never be at peace again.

Not something she was willing to face, and so again, as in with the war itself, failure was not an option.

An odd grimace chased itself across her face at that; it was a good thing she was not very good at failing.

"And what has put such a look upon your face, Lady of the West?" a curt voice asked; Izayoi looked around and met the weighing gaze of the Southern Lady, Naomi.

"Merely an odd thought about failure, and how it is good that it is one thing I am not very good at," Izayoi answered honestly, not seeing any reason not to.

"Hm," the lady responded, eyeing her in a weighing fashion. "That statement could be considered very arrogant, could it not?"

Izayoi smiled tightly. "Ah, but then, saying such a thing in that manner simply makes me sound like a youkai, does it not?" she bantered back, the edge in her voice not missed by Naomi.

At that, a bark of laughter left the Southern Lord's throat, and Naomi looked at him with features softening fondly. "Right you are, little Lady of Kangetsu," he replied, looking at his wife with open amusement. "And you cannot deny this, eh, wife?"

She shook her head, once again looking back at Izayoi, though the weighing look was not gone. "No, I cannot, for arrogance is a trait of most youkai, sure enough." Her eyes twinkled briefly at Izayoi. "Although it seems that it is not just a province of youkai, eh, Izayoi-sama?"

Letting the edginess in her manner go, Izayoi laughed softly and shook her head ruefully. "Apparently not, Naomi-sama."

Touga had listened carefully to what was being said; he was not unaware of the scrutiny that his little wife would be under now that the war was getting under way. However, he had no concerns; Izayoi would justify his faith in her, he knew it without doubt. He could hardly wait to be able to sit back and crow, "I told you so!" to all his doubters and her detractors – and that included his own son.

And just as he knew she would, she ended this little testing skirmish by the Southern Lady with the definite win, and he smiled inwardly, thoroughly pleased with his life as it was in that moment and his chosen bride.

There had never been another like his Izayoi, and there never would be.

And she was all his.

Atsushi looked across at his old friend with knowing eyes. "Mighty pleased with yourself, are you, Touga?"

"And why should I not be, Atsushi? My city is high and beautiful, my lands verdant and fair, and my wife beyond compare. The only sour note is the stench of Ryukotsussei on the winds, and we march to rid the world of that very stench right this moment. What would I have to be displeased with?"

The hawk's smile turned deadly and full of hate at the mention of the dragon, and he tilted his head in agreement. "And none too soon, I say. Would have been much better sooner, actually."

Touga nodded and said, "I agree with you, but there were certain things that had to come to pass first – my little wife reaching her maturity being the most important of those things. I would not march against Ryukotsussei without the greatest possible chances of success, Atsushi, and now we have that. It's as simple as that."

"Agreed," the hawk grunted, tilting his head into the sky as the rising sun began to lighten the dark blue of the skies, wishing he could take to those skies and stretch his wings. But it was better to stick with the troops, and so he sighed and rolled his shoulders under the weight of his armor, which was almost as elaborate as that worn by the Dog Lord.

He glanced back at the so-far silent Tamotsu, wondering at said silence. He'd been more than loud enough in council, after all.

"So, Tamotsu, why so silent back there?" he asked over his shoulder.

The wolf, who had been lost in troublesome thoughts looked up at the Hawk Lord and bared his fangs half-heartedly at him. "Do not trouble me, Atsushi. I still like not the part some of my people will be called on to play in this war, and am not in the mood for pointless banter."

"We cannot always like the way war plays out, Tamotsu," Touga interrupted calmly, not looking back at him, his gaze on the twisting road ahead that led down from the heights of Kangetsu to the still verdant but slowly fading plains below. The definite chill of fall and the foreshadowing of the coming winter would quickly turn the green grasses a deep, dead gold color. "Even now, with what we have planned there will be trouble for all of our warriors, for war never goes according to plan. Surprises abound, especially with such a sneaky, backstabbing and honorless bastard as that dragon."

"I know this, Touga," Tamotsu growled, "but it still does not change my mind about what is to come. Let me alone with my thoughts and do not bother me with pointless banter."

Touga just laughed. "As you say, then, Tamotsu," he returned easily, obviously not bothered by the Wolf Lord's ill-humor.

Atsushi simply shook his head and calmed his irritation with Tamotsu's constant harping and complaining and carefully pulled his claws in – it would not do to gut the foolish wolf now, before they had even made it to the plains, after all, let alone into the first skirmishes. But if the wolf lived through the war and continued whining about the part his wolves had been given to play...

Well, he would not be able to guarantee his continuing patience.

~oOo~

Hayate canted a quick look Yozei's way and then motioned for the group behind him to silence – there was a larger than normal presence of people just over the small rise he was peeking over, and he didn't want to give away the people behind him and end up in a to-the-knife-fight to protect those under his charge.

After seeing his people settled into Setsuna's guest wing of the summer palace and getting a night of sleep for himself, the dispossessed inuyoukai villager had been anxious to head out to the other two hidden villages and lead them to Setsuna, as well – before they were attacked as his village had been. To his pleasure, Hayate had asked his Lord for permission to go with him and it had been granted; Hayate was leading a small contingent of Setsuna men to go with Yozei and provide escort back to Setsuna lands just in case they came across those who were responsible for the attack on his village.

Listening carefully, Hayate's face went cold and bleak as he heard the rough voices of a group of men that was speaking of 'cleansing the area of youkai and hanyou taint', and he signaled his men forward. They would take the brunt of any attacks if those bastards caught them, while the youkai villagers would protect the females and the young.

"... some more of those tainted villages hidden somewhere in the mountains nearby, an' we just need to find 'em like we did the last one," a scratchy voice was saying as the group made its way towards the mountains Hayate and the villagers were coming from. "Sure as Yuki Onna's touch is deadly those bastards are what's been bringin' the bad luck to our villages lately, and if'n we can wipe them out we can turn our luck back."

A chorus of rusty voices broke out in support of the speaker's words, and Hayate made note of the men as they passed by below his vantage point. It didn't take much looking for him to place the group; they wore pendants showing that they were from one of the nearby towns – Akimori town. He made a mental note to have one of his men go take up residence there to see if this bunch was a town-sanctioned group or whether they'd just taken this atrocity on themselves. Once he knew, he himself would be paying a nice, quiet visit to the man that seemed to be leading this group on and getting a little vengeance for the murdered people for himself.

Thankfully, being mostly youkai and hanyou the group behind him was able to stay very, very silent, even the human spouses having learned over their years with their mates to move more silently than most humans could – or wait just as silently. Hayate waited until the men were no longer in sight or earshot before beckoning his group onward. They were not far now from Setsuna borders and once across them they would not be bothered – those under Hiraku's banner knew better than to go against his wishes in anything. It was a good thing Hiraku was intent on what was good and right and honorable, because if he hadn't been...

Quickly getting across the open clearing before them, the group slipped back into the trees and soon was well away from the area those men had been heading, Hayate only thankful that Yozei had been so insistent on going to those two other villages so quickly.

When they'd arrived at each village and had sat down and told their story, the elders of each had been rightly horrified and worried, moving quickly to accept Yozei's words and Hiraku-sama's offer and ready their people to leave the only homes some of them had ever known.

It was now apparent to them all that it had been a wise decision on their parts to do so, or they would have fallen to the same fate Yozei's village had.

Gathering those following him together once they'd made it away from the area that bunch of murderers was lurking in, Hayate quickly had everyone readied to make a controlled dash to Setsuna's border. The adult youkai would carry the children, taking their true forms if they had to, and then he and his men would take forward and rear positions as they hurried across the open ground that his Lord's lands bordered. Hopefully those men they'd come across wouldn't have any reason to come back this way, and just as much he prayed that there weren't any other murderous bastards running around out there and blocking their way to safety.

Grimly catching Yozei's eyes and then his own men's, Hayate nodded as everyone braced and then ran from the cover of the trees and headed onto the open plain, taking the several ri needed to reach Setsuna land as quickly as possible.

Even now, with danger all around and safety dangling just out of reach the children were silent, not one crying or fussing in any manner as most human children would have done. It made things easier, because at least this way they wouldn't draw any attention through noisy, frightened children.

It was evident to all, however, that just because the children were quiet didn't mean they didn't feel the fear of the danger they were currently in, because as Hayate glanced back, he caught several pairs of little eyes plastered to him with that aforementioned fear. He turned his head back around, determined to see those same eyes soon filled with contentment and calm, the knowledge that they were safe shining brightly from them as the fear was doing now.

They were paralleling the road that led southward into Setsuna but half a ri away from it for safety's sake. Catching signs of dust stirred up from the road, meaning there were people on it, Hayate signaled all those behind him to stop running and crouch down into the surrounding grasses so that he could watch and assess the road for danger from those on it.

Eyes narrowing, he hissed with irritation – it was near sunset and with the sun setting in the direction of said road he was unable to make much out with the glare. Impatiently he snapped his fingers, and one of his men hurried forward at the signal, still in a crouch.

"Have Masashi take a run closer to the road and see if he can make out who's on it," he said in a low voice, and within moments he was watching Masashi disappear into the tall grasses heading for the road. He'd been picked for his speed; he'd been teased often enough growing up in Setsuna's palaces about his 'youkai blood'. He was the fastest runner they had, and it appeared even some youkai were impressed, because Yozei soon came forward and asked about the young man's speed himself, also thinking that he had youkai blood.

"No, he's strictly human," Hayate informed him, grinning at the surprised look on the inuyoukai's face. "Well, while most humans are slow, some of us can actually move pretty fast, though we don't have youkai speed." The grin fell off his face, then, and he looked back at his charges, smiling a little at some of the children who met his gaze. "But you know... maybe neither youkai nor human are the right of things – maybe it's really only when we combine that the best traits of both come out."

Yozei shot him a sharp glance at that, and then nodded, thinking about his own son. "And perhaps we will live to see more of our races joining, if what Hiraku-sama is trying to do works. We can only hope."

Nothing more was said as Masashi made his way back, surprising even Hayate with how fast he'd returned.

"The ones on the road won't be no problem – it's just some peasant family returning home from market day, it looks like. As far as I could see there weren't no one between us and the border, so if we go for it, I think we'll be fine," the young man said as he crouched down near his leader, speaking quietly so only he and those few with him could hear.

Hayate nodded and sent Yozei back to let the elders know that they were going to make their final run for it, and that they would be at the border soon. He waited almost impatiently for the signals from the villagers and his men at the rear that they were ready, and then he turned and once more led the group onward, happier to see that border than he'd been in a damn long time.

At the pace they'd set it only took half a candlemark to reach the border, and as soon as the last man had crossed the stream that drew that border he signaled the stop and stood up from his crouch, smiling as the people he'd been leading also stood, looking around cautiously as they did so.

"No worries any longer," he called back in a pleased tone, "we have made it, and from here on out no one will dare to challenge us since I and my men wear Setsuna's token. We're safe!"

Ragged cheers went up from the adults and even some of the older children, and Yozei once more joined him up front and asked how much further they would be traveling before making camp for the night.

Eyeing the setting sun and then the terrain, Hayate looked thoughtfully back along their trail and then ahead on the path they needed to take. After thinking it over, he said, "We will head for that copse of trees ahead in the short distance and make camp there. I will feel safer once we are out of sight of the border, I will admit. Why don't you have everyone fill their waterskins here from the stream for tonight's needs, and then we will go on."

Yozei nodded and clapped him on the back and then turned away and began exhorting all those with skins to refill them so they could move on to their night's camp all the sooner, while getting out-of-sight of the border.

Now that they were in lands controlled by Hiraku he felt a great weight fall from his shoulders. He had done what he had set out to do – save the rest of his people, for despite the fact that they had lived in different villages they had been the same, and that meant that they were brothers. And now they would have the chance to truly integrate and become one village, openly living on land given to them by the Lord of it and with all the protections that any other town or village in his control would be entitled to.

For the first time ever he had hope for the future. Yes, he knew that what Setsuna and the Western Lord were trying to do might well fail – but it was a chance he was willing to take.

After all, if they did fail he and his people would die, anyway. At least this way they had a chance.

Just at that moment something seemed to catch his attention; tilting his head to the earth below his feet Yozei listened intently. After a few seconds his expression became grim and he looked north.

And so it begins...

~oOo~

As soon as the last of the gathered army had left the narrow road that wrapped around the mountain Kangetsu lay atop Touga called a short halt so everyone could ready themselves to pick up the pace. It was now that speed was needed – the sooner they could reach the border and attack across it, the less of a chance that Ryukotsussei would be ready and waiting with his entire army behind him.

Izayoi blew her bangs out of her face and settled her bow more comfortably and stably over her shoulder, and then upped the amount of her reiki she was sending through her body. Now would come the first test of her words, for she knew that they would be moving at much faster speeds than any human could. They would basically all be running.

When the gathered youkai had all spread out enough so as to have enough room Atsushi shouted the order to move out, and the army of beings spread out across the plain abruptly blurred away as they moved with youkai speed towards the still-distant Northern Border.

Touga grinned with excitement as he looked to his side and watched his little wife running seemingly easily at the swift pace. He had wondered whether she would really be able to keep pace with them. Not that he thought she was lying, but he had definitely wondered whether she knew just how fast youkai could move.

It appeared that she did, and was prepared for it. He was so proud of her...

Something occurred to him then and he glanced over at his other side to see his son, curious as to what expression he might have on his face now that he was being presented with proof that Izayoi could, indeed, keep up with them. He chuckled internally when he caught the thin-lipped look – it was apparent that he hadn't believed her when she'd said that she would be able to, and was now being faced with having to swallow that disbelief.

He looked forward again and glanced up at the sky, calculating exactly how long it would take for them to reach the border at their current speed. Mid-day, I think, or shortly thereafter. We could use a diversion when we arrive so as to cause as much confusion on their part as possible before the wolves go in. But what? He thought about it for a while and then came up with the perfect idea, and he couldn't wait to reach the border and put his idea into action.

It would be Izayoi who struck the first blow of this war, and he couldn't help but think how appropriate that actually would be – since it had been the very reason he had decided to seek her hand those several years ago.

With that in mind he turned just slightly, unconcerned; the rest of the army would have no problems following, and led them all towards the area of the border that actually was hidden from the Northern side by a low hill. They could come to a halt behind that, and then he could set his little surprise in motion and the dragons wouldn't even know they were coming.

Time passed slowly for Kagome as she ran with the wind at the head of an army that passed swiftly across the land like a rumor of death. Despite their pace it felt as though time itself had slowed down, and she made a note of that odd feeling so she could ask Touga at another time if that was something that youkai also felt.

That morning run was one of the strangest experiences of Izayoi/Kagome's young life. They traveled without stops or breaks of any kind, unlike human armies which could only move so fast and so far without stopping for rests and food. Youkai didn't bother with food when traveling for the most part, though if they chose to they could eat literally on the run, simply taking out some of their traveling rations, as she witnessed a few do.

Kirara did not seem bothered by the lack of stops or food, either, flying along behind Izayoi at about shoulder height with her red eyes focused on the route they were taking but her thoughts on her friend.

'Are you tired, Kagome? If you are I can carry you,' the firecat offered as she felt her companion's thoughts touch on her.

'No, I'm fine, Kirara,' the young woman replied. 'Just thinking on how it is so different traveling with a youkai army to the way humans are forced to do things.

Kirara let out a loud purr at that comment. Of course it is different. Humans, as a rule,' she thought with some amusement at the realization of just how much Kagome's humanity was not the same as other humans, 'are weaker than youkai. They do not have the sources of energy and power that we do, nor the stamina.' There came the feeling of a mental shrug. 'That is why most youkai feel so contemptuous of humans. I don't – it isn't their faults they were born human or weaker than I was, and I could have as easily been born human instead of youkai. It is this thought that I think perhaps Sesshoumaru hasn't realized yet – that but for an accident of birth he could have been human, just as easily as anyone else.'

Kagome thought about that as she ran. It was quite true; for who was to say what made one being born youkai, and the other human? Only the kami truly knew why one was born one way and the other born the other way, but in the end it didn't really matter. Because the one equalizer between the races was death. Youkai might not die of old age or disease very often – although it had happened, as she was aware from her research – but they could still be killed, and when death came for them they were just as helpless before it as any human ever was or would be.

This was something that she thought that perhaps Sesshoumaru hadn't really thought about, either. Perhaps someone ought to mention it to him at some point. It might make him begin to actually think about what was really important in life – and what wasn't.

Her thoughts blurred with the wind as more time went on, and she kept careful tally of her energy and how her body was feeling, making adjustments as necessary. So far her belief that she could do this and be just fine was being borne out and she felt perfectly comfortable, and after a careful check of her reservoirs of reiki she was quite pleased. Since she was basically just cycling her energies through her own body, she wasn't really using it in the same manner as she did when she used it for healing others or in combat. At those times she was using her energy and depleting it, since it was being sent away from her body, like when she fired a hama no ya. But since none of her energy was actually leaving her with this type of use, her reiki didn't need to be replenished with rest and time. Which was a very good thing.

She glanced up at the sky and took note that it was close to mid-day, and at least according to what Touga had said in passing a day or so ago they should be nearing the border soon. It wasn't long after she remembered that particular comment that her husband's pace did indeed begin to slow, and she looked around with interest as those following Touga also began to slow almost as one man.

They were coming upon a long, low rolling hill – it looked almost as though the land here had been water at one point and a wave had simply frozen in place and turned into soil and stone. She wondered at just how far they were from the border – and their enemies, and her blood began to heat and adrenaline kicked in as the realization that the first blows of the war were about to be exchanged.

By now the entire army had come to a totally silent halt, and Touga turned to those behind him and motioned Atsushi and Tamotsu to join him. As Izayoi went to step back, Touga shook his head and grasped her elbow with a tight smile, instead.

"No, my love, stay – you will be needed momentarily. I have had a most... interesting and entertaining thought while traveling, and I think you will like it as much as I do," he said with a rather mysterious smile, and Izayoi blinked, curious.

"Alright," she murmured, waiting with leashed patience for the others to join them and her lord husband to enlighten them all on his plan.

Once Atsushi, Tamotsu, Naomi, Sesshoumaru and Satori had all closed around Touga, he began speaking.

"The border with the North lies just at the base of this hill on the other side. The men the dragon already has in place along the border are very close, and completely unsuspecting – or they should be. I considered different ways to terrify and confuse them so that Tamotsu's wolves would have enemies that were already in disorder so as to lessen his losses, and I have come up with this: Izayoi will strike the first blow with her arrows. She is quick with her bow, and could shoot three volleys into the midst of the youkai gathered on the other side, destroying many and shocking the rest so as to heighten the disarray and confusion of the attack."

"I can actually fire three arrows at once, Touga," she piped up before anyone could say anything, although Satori and even Naomi had rather feral grins on their faces at what had been said, apparently approving of the idea Touga had come up with.

The group all turned to look at her with various weighing and even some amused expressions, and Touga said, "Three at once? How accurate could such a thing be?"

"As accurate as one arrow," she replied, unslinging her bow from over her shoulder with a well-practiced motion and drawing three arrows from her quiver. With careful expertise she nocked all three in the bow and showed her husband and the others their positions. "Once I know exactly where the enemy is located and the distance that I will need between each arrow I can adjust their positions in the bow as required."

Touga nodded. "That is perfect, then. We can have the ookami get into position and the explosions from the enemy's side of the border when your arrows hit will be their signal to attack." He looked up at Tamotsu and asked, "Does this help alleviate some of your worry for your wolves?"

Tamotsu was actually smiling. "I am much more pleased with this idea than the one where we would just run out into the midst of the dragons and attack on our own," he said happily. "With that kind of beginning foray the enemy would have been able to respond much quicker to our attack and that would have cost me many of my wolves. Your wife is a godsend, Touga," he smiled at Izayoi expansively.

Touga looked proud and pleased. "I know," he said, almost modestly as Izayoi blushed, to the amusement of the other females. Even Nami and Mine along with her mate Kenichi, who were hovering just a few paces away, looked amused at her embarrassment.

Izayoi's blush only deepened as Kenji added, "Izayoi is truly an amazing woman," in total agreement with Touga on the matter. Kirara simply purred from her place at her friend's side and rubbed her head against her affectionately, obviously agreeing with the sentiment from the two males.

Sesshoumaru was watching her closely and seemed approving of how she had handled herself so far this morning. She had delivered what she had promised up to this point. "One wonders how depleted your energies are from the travel, and now to be firing three powerful hama no ya so as to confound the enemy...?" he murmured questioningly, his brow cocked.

"And the answer to that is not at all," Izayoi replied, straightening her shoulders and forgetting her embarrassment as she put her business face on. "Because my energies were merely turned to cycling through my own body I did not actually deplete any of my reiki during the run. And as for the arrows... three arrows fired singly or together will make not the slightest dent. If they could, I would not be very useful in battle, for what kind of miko would I be to tire so quickly from such a short attack?"

"Hn," the young male replied, eyes narrowed but not, as she had almost expected, with anger. Instead he seemed to be thinking about something, and as he lapsed back into silence Touga looked around at the group surrounding him and asked, "Are we agreed, then? Izayoi will begin the attack as soon as we have checked over the hill to see how the dragons are formed up?"

There were approving nods and murmurs from all those gathered, and Touga grinned tightly with gathering excitement. "Good. Then Izayoi and Atsushi will join me at the top of the hill as we look over the enemy's position. Once Izayoi has fired, Tamotsu, you and your ookami will attack and take out as many of the enemy as you can in a tenth of a mark. Then the rest of us will swarm over the border and clean up anything that is left. And then... then we will march on the dragon's palace and the war will truly begin. Agreed?" he asked once more, and with no dissenters, he turned to lead his wife and Atsushi up the hill in a crouch while Tamotsu gathered his wolves around him and they moved to near the top of the hill on either side of Touga and Izayoi's position.

They would attack from both sides, catching the enemy in a vise between them and destroying as many as possible in the time given.

When the small group reached the summit of the hill Touga motioned for the others to wait and inched his head up enough to see over it. He took in what lay before him calmly, interested to see that for some reason there was less of an army presence than he had expected or indeed than what had been reported by his heir and Kajiko. Was the dragon laying some sort of trap, leaving a smaller force in the open and hiding the rest just out of sight so as to incite, he, Touga, into attacking prematurely?

He carefully expanded his senses looking for any other traces of youki in the area, and was a little mystified and concerned as well not to find any. It was literally like Ryukotsussei had abandoned these beings to their fates and moved on.

But the dragon was not that stupid, even if he were truly that immoral and dishonorable to abandon his own to a slaughter – which he was. So what was the reason for these youkai to even be here along the border at all?

Touga thought about it for a few minutes but finally shook his head and set the matter aside; there was no time to wonder at what that mad bastard was doing. It would be best just to take advantage of the fool's mistake before he could correct it.

There were perhaps two thousand youkai below in a rather small camp setting, with a bonfire at its center and the youkai all moving around focusing on their various tasks.

I wonder...

Looking at that huge bonfire had just given him an idea. After one last look at the peaceful army encampment laid out just across the border he scooted back to rejoin his wife and Atsushi.

"Izayoi, is there anything you can do to a bonfire?" he asked in a voice little higher than a whisper.

His wife blinked blankly at him. "Eh? A bonfire? Why?" she whispered back.

"Because in the very center of the enemy camp is a huge bonfire. If we could somehow make it flare out of control it would add even more to the chaos."

Izayoi shook her head. "If I were to do such a thing it would burn everything from here to the northern mountains. I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Hm." Touga looked a little disappointed; while he wouldn't have any qualms with burning the North right out from under Ryukotsussei, he and his race of dragons wouldn't even flinch at a fire, so all it would do was cause more trouble for Tamotsu and his wolves. He sighed. "Ah, well, it was a thought." He idly played with a blade of grass as he considered things. "Well, since that bonfire is there and we can't make it explode, I think you will only need to use two arrows, one for each side of it. Come, and I will show you how they are positioned so you know where to aim."

Izayoi nodded and followed her husband's low crawl to the top of the hill and peeked through the grasses at the encampment fifty feet below or so.

Her eyes quickly scanned the area with professional thoroughness and within seconds she had already calculated her trajectory and the angle and position needed for maximum effectiveness. When she'd finished making those calculations she nodded silently at Touga and scooted back down to a point down the hill enough so that she could stand up and not be seen by the enemy, quickly followed by a so-far silent Atsushi and Touga.

Sliding her bow from her shoulder she looked it over to make sure nothing had been damaged during their travel and that the line still had its perfect tension, and then she did the same to the two arrows she drew from her quiver. When she was satisfied that they were usable she nocked them both to her bow, carefully adjusting their position for equal placement.

Every eye on her side of the hill was on her in that moment as the little warrior priestess prepared to fire the opening volley of the war with trepidation mixed with excitement, and there wasn't even a breath to be heard coming from any of them as those arrows began to take on a pink glow as she drew down on the line.

Izayoi inhaled deeply and then held it, adrenaline and excitement circled distantly by worry suddenly devouring her body. This is it... once I make this shot the war will officially start. Determined not to falter, however, she drew back on the line as far as it would go for maximum distance, and then with a deep exhale she let her fingers slip almost gently from the taut line. She watched with everyone else as the line scraped her bracers, making a loud twanging sound, and her arrows arced high over the hill trailing pink fire in seeming slow motion before beginning to lose their height and heading for the earth below.

The twin explosions as they hit gave the counterpoint to the sudden screams from the enemy camp; Izayoi darted back the few steps to the top of the hill along with Touga and Atsushi just as a roar went up from the attacking ookami. With a satisfied glance at the strike zones Izayoi was pleased to see that they had landed dead on where she had planned, and that everything within those zones had been vaporized leaving nothing behind but a glittering dust that sparkled in the sunlight even as it, too, dissipated. Then there was nothing left to show that just moments ago those areas had been filled with living beings.

Body heating as it prepared for battle, Touga watched the carnage below with eager, crimson-laced eyes – as did all the others around her. She was the only one not enjoying the chaos below and the sheer amount of killing going on.

Kagome knew, however, the difference between killing and murdering, and that difference was being played out below them in technicolor and surround-sound. A kill is the justifiable taking of a life. Murder is the unjustifiable taking of a life. What she was about to be participating in was killing. These beings were planning a murderous spree in the Western lands so that their insane and psychotic leader could gain the Shikon no Tama and perpetrate horrors she probably couldn't even imagine on every part of Nihon. The warriors she was with were here to put a stop to his plans and the predations his army would spread across the West if they were allowed to cross the border. And so these deaths were justifiable because they had to be stopped for the greater good and this was the only way to do that.

That didn't mean she had to like it. As much as she'd killed, herself, in her three most recent lifetimes, she had never enjoyed it. She could say with perfect certainty that she never would, either. But she was more than capable of doing what needed done, despite that.

She watched as the wolves, some in true form and some in human, attacked relentlessly, scattering the remnants of the once neat camp all across the area. Just as a good portion of the remaining dragons and cold bloods broke towards the border like fools, Touga howled, and with a sound like thunder the army behind them surged forward... and just like that Izayoi was swept into her first true battle.

Staff in hand and ready for whatever was coming she stayed fairly close to Touga, her bodyguards surrounding her and Kirara at her side as she took the first blows from her first opponent on her staff and blocked and parried with it just like it was a katana. The killing blow came swiftly and the youkai she'd just killed stared at her in shock and then down at the staff pressing into his stomach that was guiding her reiki into his body.

When the light in his eyes went out and he dissipated, she turned and caught another youkai's sword on her staff – one that had been harrying Mine, and the little dragon girl smiled gratefully at her Lady before finishing the other dragon trying to kill her, while Izayoi did the same to her opponent.

The next youkai to come against her eyed her staff with derision and sarcastic amusement as he moved to attack. "Think you to kill me with a stick?"

"Actually, yes, I do," she shot back tartly as she blocked his underhand attack and then spun back out of reach just as he tried to impale her. But he had used so much force on the blow that when it didn't connect he stumbled, just a little off-balance.

That was all the opening she needed, and bringing her staff up to hit his male equipment, she flooded her staff with her reiki again. The male's mouth opened in a scream of pain that was cut off as he disintegrated. Before he could even finish purifying away Izayoi was already fighting another opponent as the combined armies of the south and west overran the enemy encampment.

By the time she finished that soldier off most of the enemy was dead and Izayoi looked around, first looking for her husband and when she saw him already bellowing orders at his soldiers, she looked for her companions and those she cared for – Kenji, Mine, Nami, Satori, and Sesshoumaru, as well as Kenichi. Relieved to find them all unharmed, she smiled.

Kirara she didn't have to worry about, since she could hear her inside her mind and knew that her friend was just fine.

As Tamotsu and Atsushi joined Touga near the still burning bonfire to survey the success of their first strike, Kagome moved quickly and carefully through the sometimes blood-slicked grass and met her husband's inquiring gaze – the one he'd turned on her after thoroughly scenting her to make sure she was unharmed – and asked if any of the Lords had any of their people that needed care for injuries received.

Surprisingly, it was Atsushi that sheepishly admitted that he himself had taken a wound, one gained because he was so busy watching his mate that he'd lost track of a series of blows and taken a sword through his upper chest on the right side. Kagome eyed his armor and figured that was why she couldn't see any bleeding.

"I can heal that for you," she offered, "if you'll allow it."

A wary expression appeared faintly deep in his eyes, and as he saw the knowledge in her eyes of his uncertainty, Kagome sighed. "It is your choice, my lord. But just know this – I would never harm an ally of my husband and cause him to be labeled dishonorable because of something that I had done. You have nothing to fear from me."

"How is it that you are going to help me?" he asked, a little skeptically. She didn't even have a medicine bundle or bandages.

He leaned back in shock as her hands began to glow with her pink reiki. "My energy can heal or kill, my lord. It is simply a choice."

Still seeming to be a bit wary, Kagome nodded sadly and turned to Touga, who had a long scratch down his sword arm from a dragon's claw. Dark and getting darker, she hissed as it became clear that the claws of that dragon had exuded some kind of bacteriological poison into her husband's body, and though she knew that something like that wouldn't kill him, it would make things uncomfortable for him. Without even warning him she placed her tiny hands on his arm and brought her power to bear.

Within moments the pulsing black energy was gone, washed away in a flood of pink fire, and the wound was rapidly sealing itself and fading away, even as an astounded Atsushi and Tamotsu watched.

"Thank you, my love," Touga said, his face and voice going serious as he turned to look out over the detritus and bellow out the order to anyone who had been injured to report to the bonfire and their lords for healing.

Thankfully the line that quickly formed was not very long – there had been very few of their people injured. As the line continued to swell, though slowly, Atsushi met Izayoi's gaze sheepishly as Naomi began scolding him for acting the fool and not letting the Western Lady heal him.

"Yes, my love," he murmured with affection touched by a sheepish smile. "I know."

When he uncurled his arm away from his side, he stiffened as the pain caught up with him.

Buried under his damaged armor as the wound was Kagome couldn't see it – but she could feel it and she immediately sent runners of rosy reiki into the wound, surprising the Southern lord with the comforting warmth that shafted through him with her power.

Within moments he was healed, the pain disappearing between one second and the next and he found himself feeling better than he had in years. If this was what the little Western Lady was capable of then he wasn't about to naysay her.

"Thank you," he said with a courtly bow and Kagome smiled in return before motioning for the first youkai in the line to step forward.

"You are most welcome, my Lord," she replied warmly, though her voice was now preoccupied as she looked her next patient over.

Just as she finished with the fourth one in the line a disturbance made its way towards them, and Touga was immediately on his feet, ready to strike and destroy should what was coming be a danger to his wife.

It was nothing of the sort; instead it was one of Tamotsu's wolves – one who should have already been dead from the condition he was in – being swiftly carried towards Kagome. Most of his innards were outards instead – if he'd been human he would have been dead. However, though it was clear he was alive, it was also clear that he wouldn't be for long and that he was in excruciating agony.

"Set him down here," Kagome ordered the two carrying him. "As gently as possible," she cautioned shortly, immediately going to her knees and closing her eyes in preparation for this more difficult healing, her reiki infused hands glowing much brighter than they had been just moments before.

That light dimmed significantly as she touched the male and her power entered his body swiftly, heading unerringly towards the damaged portions of his body. A frown touched Kagome's brow and she gasped a little in her seeming trance at the same moment he frowned.

It was clear that this injury was one that would take effort and power to heal.

In her mind's eye Izayoi could see every bit of damage, every torn muscle, intestine, vein. It glowed like white fire in her mind and she began repairing what had been damaged so badly. First, the length of intestine pulled back inside his body by her power, the tears in it folding closed. Then she repaired the muscle walls that kept the internal organs in place, even regrowing some that had been shredded beyond repair. At the same time she surged her power into damaged veins and sealed them tightly, allowing his body to stop bleeding. And last but not least, his flesh itself; to Touga's extreme interest, as well as the other two Lords, they were able to watch her healing power at work as it repaired the great rent in the wolf's body.

It was astounding, and the implications were vast.

Tamotsu spoke up first. "Thank you, Lady of the West, for my cousin's life. His mate would doubtless say the same were she here, but she is heavy with their first pup, and so could not join us."

Kagome's eyes softened for a moment on the still unconscious wolf. "All the thanks I need is knowing that his child will have the chance to know his father," she replied, before standing and moving to the next injured person in line. "He will be fine; when he wakes make sure he is given food and water, for his body will need the food to restore his energy."

Nothing more was said as Kagome worked her way down the line, her final patient a patiently waiting Nami. She had been struck from behind by one of those cowardly snakes and though the injury was minor, it would still be better to heal it completely so that she was at a hundred percent for the rest of what was to come.

Touga was definitely pleased with his wife's performance so far, and he could see that even Sesshoumaru hadn't found anything to complain about yet. But he was a bit concerned; was Izayoi tiring herself out too much healing everyone after fighting, and the long run, as well?

"How are you feeling, Izayoi my love?" he asked her as he pulled her aside for a moment just between them.

She smiled up at her lover, though it was slightly tight, that was to be expected with their current surroundings. He didn't see any signs of overt fatigue, which was good, but...

"I'm fine, Touga. Stop worrying so much," she chided with softly-voiced affection. "I don't want you to get hurt because you were paying more attention to me than your own opponents."

Touga sighed at her loving reprimand, knowing she was right. He just couldn't help it, but he'd have to learn to set it aside and let her do what it was in her to do. Despite his worries, he had faith in her.

"You are right, my love. We have yet more traveling to do before reaching the bastard's palace, and I want to be in place before dark. But this time, ride Kirara, for me? It would give me surcease to see you getting at least a little rest."

It was Kagome's turn to sigh, though she didn't get angry at his persistence. "Touga, I'm fine. You know I can't do that." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "All of those here are judging me against my words and their own capabilities. I cannot afford to take the easy way out, even were I tired, which I am not." Delicate fingers brushed against his cheek with tenderness. "You should take your own advice-"

"Which was?" he interrupted her, his voice also low but filled with agitation at her denial of his wishes.

"Think of me as youkai rather than human," she replied as she let her fingers drop away from his face.

He growled lowly at that, remembering perfectly when he'd said that and unable to deny her words. Dislike it or not, he was no hypocrite and she was right – he could feel her aura and she was only slightly tired from healing all those who had needed it. By the time they reached the northern palace she would be fine again.

"It is easier said than done," he accepted wryly after a few seconds spent looking her over. "But you are right. So I will have to be content with you resting for the little time it will take for my own army to gather and join us from where they have been stationed along the borders."

"How long will that take?" she asked, falling into step at his shoulder as he turned and strode towards the bonfire and the gathered leaders of the warriors.

Touga squinted up at the late afternoon sky and nodded to himself, pleased so far at their timing. If all continued to go well and favor them, the full might of the three cardinal Lords opposing Ryukotsussei would arrive upon his doorstep sometime after midnight – which meant that they would be in place to surprise the dragon with their gathered swords as soon as daylight fell. That would give them a huge advantage – they would be ready to attack, and he would be caught out in disarray.

A delicately cleared throat pulled him back to his surroundings and he glanced at his wife over his shoulder as they reached the fire. "By the time night has fallen we will be on our way, my love." He paused for a moment, then added, "I wish for you to rest until it is time to leave." His tone of voice alerted her to the fact that this was an order, not a request.

Demure smile firmly in place, Kagome nodded agreeably and beckoned for Kirara to join her; within moments she was curled up with her near the blaze and dozing off – as were some of the others, including Sesshoumaru.

She was satisfied by that – they could hardly judge her for something that they were also doing. And amidst those resting quietly in wait for the rest of the army to join them Kagome dreamed dreams of blood and fire - and behind it all a softly glowing jewel of great and terrible power that glowed with dark hatred and malice as it directed events from behind the scenes. Just as Naraku had in the end found out in that lost future, the jewel controlled, it did not bow.

It was the ultimate puppeteer, a grand master of marionettes, and time was merely its toy. It feared only one thing...

And that was Kagome herself.