Thank you jossledjade for giving in the correct response to the question in chapter 10. I'm really Sorry to everyone that it took me so long to write chapter 11; I'm a very lazy person and I've been trying to keep my grades in the mid to high eighties at school, which doesn't leave much time for side writing.

Anyways!!! On with this chapter… if its kinda crappy, its because this is more of a filler chapter, the next chapters will be better, mostly because of new characters intro's and the lands they will be crossing.

Chapter 11:

Crossing A Continent

"Inu-Yasha… has she said anything to you yet?"

The male in question turned his gaze towards the place where a fire had been roaring moments before. A hunched figure was crouched over, inspecting the food that she had cooking on a spit. Inu-Yasha noticed that he was not the only one who was watching the only person in camp with a decent supper, and turned back to his dried meat. They had left the boat a few days ago on the Gaul's side of the London channel, and Kagome had not spoken since leaving her homeland. It was beginning to get on the prefects nerves. "No. She only nods at me since she knows that by law she must acknowledge my presence."

Miroku also let his eyes travel back down to the dried meat that was part of the military supplies. "She hasn't uttered a word since we left the port in Britannia Superior. Normally that would be considered lady like but still, I'm worried."

"I figure she'll get over it eventually, although we will defiantly be finding her another horse in the mean time. Samara doesn't like the added weight of two, and I refuse to have a woman walk in the road like a commoner. I do recognize that she is of good breeding."

Miroku's brows rose a centimetre. He didn't know that his friend was so observant of the young lady who had recently become his slave by divine rite. Of course, it was obvious in the way that Kagome carried herself that she was defiantly of some dignified blood. How much nobility there was in her was a mystery. "Do you think she will accept another companion? It will be hard to find another beast that is even close to the intelligence of her horse."

Inu-Yasha let his golden eyes wander up to his cousin and stared coldly. "She use the bloody thing whether she likes it or not."

"You really should learn about women Inu-Yasha. Maybe she'd rather walk then feel like she was betraying the only companion she ever had." Miroku bit a chunk out of the disgusting excuse for red meat and chewed it with difficulty. He swallowed the chewed piece and grimaced. "Leather would probably be better then this."

"SHIT!"

Miroku could barely blink before his friend was gone in a flash of silver, no doubt caused by Inu-Yasha's odd hair. Supposedly his family was originally descended from the god Triton, and that's where his hair came from. Throwing down his food, Miroku snatched up his sword and followed his commander.

Kagome who had been eating her rabbit happily now found herself staring up at one of the biggest soldiers she had ever seen. He towered over her with a head of cropped dark hair and brown eyes that seemed to be almost black. "Umm… can I help you?"

The soldier's smile widened at her squeaky pitch and scrunched his nose up as he stared down at her hands. Another soldier came up behind him and peered around the first soldier's broad shoulders. Kagome mustered up her courage and asked the man again if she could help him.

"Well of course you can help me little lassie. Give me some of that delicious food you're eating and I'd be glad to go away."

His voice was deep, like thunder rolling over the hills during a storm. Violet eyes studied the man carefully as Kagome weighed her options. It was only but a single rabbit that she had caught, and even then it was small. Still the hope that was flickering in the men's eyes was too much for her cold heart to resist. "There isn't much. What have you got to trade?"

The man instantly stepped forward and sat down near the fire. His hands reached out to the flame as he tried to warm the digits. This was the only fire in camp, since the prefect had ordered the men to finish off the rations before the next city. "Your bow looks beat up. I can get you a new one."

Kagomes eyes opened wide as she processed the idea. A loud yell distracted her and had the second soldier jumping behind the bigger one whom she still had no name for.

"Severus!! What on earth are you doing?"

Inu-Yasha tramped into the light of the fire and let it be known that his blade was unsheathed. His hard eyes shifted from the two soldiers to Kagome as a growl rose up in his throat. "What is going on here?"

"Kagome!" Miroku also ran into the light with his blade out beside him. He looked at the scene around him and slid the sword back into its sheath. "Well I can see you're fine. Come on Inu-Yasha, let us get back to the tent."

"I want to know why two of my soldiers are sitting with my property?" His eyes flashed to Kagome, daring her to contribute her answer. His body language openly said that she wasn't to say a word. Kagome of course had other plans. She gave an undignified snort and rose up to her full height, which would have contended with any other Roman.

Kagome glared and opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off. "One word Kagome and you sleep in my tent with myself and Miroku."

The man who she now assumed was Severus began to chuckle under his breath at the excited look on Miroku's face. The glare that she was being given from her current master seemed to make her anger bubble to the surface. She took a deep breath to try and calm her self, but the anger still seeped like red lines into her eyes.

"I mean it you little brat, I will have you sleeping in that tent with us as a proper slave should do."

A tiny trickle of blood ran over her puffy lip and down her chin. The Celt unclenched her hands and sat back down at the fire; her hand stretched out with the rabbit towards Severus. Her violent gaze was still locked with that of the Romans. Suddenly she wasn't all that hungry.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The weather was shitty, the horses were muddy, and still the legion continued onwards. Kagome rode near the middle, trying her best to ignore the stupidity of the beast beneath her. This morning Inu-Yasha had left camp, she had been moody at best then, but then when he returned hours later she was in nothing short of a rage. With him he had brought this poor excuse of horseflesh and expected her to ride it without so much as a peep.

With each step she could feel the poor animals discomfort. He probably wasn't used to walking the roads in this mud; but at least he was hardy. This old horse, whom she had named Beacon due to his size and the speckled grey colour of his coat, refused to be left behind by the other more statuesque equines. Kagome had promised her new friend that as soon as they got to Inu-Yasha's estate in Rome, he would be let free.

"Slow it down Beacon. We wouldn't want them to be in a rush." Kagome pulled back slightly on the reins and let her fingernails scratch the horse's neck. He whickered in delight and dropped back another few columns. One of the storm tipped ears flicked back and then returned to a forward position. His rider giggled to herself and let out another sneeze.

"Here missy. You'd best blow that cute little nose of yours." A giant ham-like hand was thrust in front of her face; A little patch of woven linen was clasped in it. Kagome received it with thanks and dropped her reins to use the snot rag. Her violet eyes widened when she looked up to the owner.

"I remember you from last night. Severus correct?"

"Aye. I'm glad you remember me. Now, if I may ask, what in the name of Jupiter and Juno are you all the way back here?" A close inspection revealed that his eyes were indeed almost black, as was his hair. This man was like an ogre sized Miroku, but he still had the feeling of a giant dog. 'This man might be worth making friends with.' Kagome let a small smile lift along her puffy lips.

"I am currently trying to fall far enough behind that those brutes up at the front will not recognize if I have escaped or not. Then when they run off to find me I shall make my get away!" The smile grew cat-like in nature and spread up to the young girls eyes. Promises of fire and brimstone glittered with malice and a deep loathing in those violet pools. "He will regret ever threatening me."

"Ahhh! So this is about the young prefect up there is it?" Kagome's eye twitched at the word that related Inu-Yasha to his high-status. If only that ass knew jut whom he had enslaved, then he wouldn't be so willing to bring her to the Capital city. "You'll have to forgive him missy. He's had a hard up bringing with his mother being of your race and all. None of the other noble families took him serious. That boy has had to earn his way up to his status, and that is no easy task."

"It wouldn't matter to me if her was Julius Caesar. I'd still want to smack that smirk right off his face." Kagome pushed back the sides of her cloak and extended her arms out to scratch Beacon behind the ears. The horse whickered in gratitude and picked his pace up to a jaunty walk.

"You're just a little kitten with claws aren't you missy? I'm surprised that Inu-Yasha even bothered keeping you; he likes his women submissive, as do most men."

That brought a snort from the Celt. "I'd never be submissive. I can easily be befriended, but his stoneship over there hasn't even bothered to be nice since he met me; I refuse to recount that story so don't bother asking."

"You'd best keep yer' mouth shut missy, calling him such insults will only get you further onto his bad side." Severus clucked at his mount but kept his stride along Kagome's. His chestnut was a wiry coal, obviously out on his first run. "You know missy, that rabbit was mighty fine. As agreed I'll find you a new weapon once we reach Rome."

"KAGOME!!" His voice rang clear down the columns of soldiers, and it was obvious that each one was trying to hide their smirk. The Celt had been caught much further back in the ranks then she was allowed to be.

"Aww shit," Kagome sighed while she watched the white horse and her rider trot back. She could see that his face was stern, although not angry, which was good at best. Only Severus noticed the faint dusting of pink across her cheeks as Inu-Yasha came closer. He smiled comfortingly, knowing that the girl was in for at least a tongue lashing from her master.

"There you are Kagome. I've been looking for you everywhere. Come on, we're going through a village and I want you close to me since these people aren't friendly. We had troubles with them on the way here in spring." There was genuine concern in his posture and Samara didn't have that rushed look to her; normally she was all tense if Inu-Yasha was riding angry.

Severus tapped Kagome on the back and nudged her grey beast forward, since she seemed to be confused. The Celt turned to give a thankful look back to the soldier as she moved up the ranks with her master.

"Just stay close Kagome."

The girl in moved Beacon up beside Samara and quickly noticed that Miroku had moved up on the opposite side of her. She could see thatched roves in the distance and along the roads were endless crop fields of wheat and corn. As the got closer to the village, Kagome felt the urge to raise her head up; her eyes widened. Along the branches were giant black birds with eyes that looked like onyx as they stared down. One cawed out, another's voice followed quickly suit until the racket was so loud that a soldier tosses a rock at them. The birds took flight but continued to circle the company… Kagome knew they were not here to scare the soldiers…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Years later Kagome would look back on those moments of passing through villages as the worst she even endured in her travels. Word traveled quickly and at each new setting, men and women would line the roads and glare angrily at the company; at the Celt that had obviously given herself to the Romans.

That night after trudging through three villages, all with the same heavy atmosphere, Kagome couldn't help but feel sick. Their stares had been accusing. They were accusing her of throwing her life away to be with a richer nation. Some child in one of the villages had thrown a stone at Beacon and scared him so horribly. If Inu-Yasha hadn't grabbed the reins, Kagome would probably have been too stunned to stop her steed from bolting.

The child had stood there glaring, ready to toss the rock in his other hand, when Kagome had turned scornful eyes at the child he had fled quickly. Many people also moved back as her deep violet gaze rest on the individuals with the hardest glower. She was obviously unwelcome but that did not excuse their actions of disregard towards a creature of the goddess. They had best pray fiercely tonight, lest the goddess be angered by their arrogance.

With a high head, Kagome had ridden along, but now in the darkness of her fire pit, she felt sick. There was a nice raw welt on Beacons flank where the rock had hit him, she has put a salve on it earlier, but she could tell it was still sore. Every now and then he would let out a disgruntled huff that signalled a painful movement. Miroku had been over previously and given his regards, as well as some food since she hadn't had time to hunt today; Inu-Yasha had yet to appear.

Another huff came from behind as well as a sharp nudge, bringing her back from the events of the day. Kagome turned and scratched her old stallions nose. He pushed his nose further into her hand and watched her with trusting brown eyes. The Celt rolled her eyes and ripped of a chunk of bread for him, which was accepted happily. She stood in a rustle of cloth and quickly unfastened her cloak.

"I'm sorry about today Beacon." The language felt muddled and wrong, even though she should have been able to remember Gaelic easily. It had been her first tongue, but she had been speaking Latin since meeting Inu-Yasha back in the summer.

Raven locks flew as she shook her head quickly. It was best to forget that meeting. "You may have my cloak for the night my little light." The heavy black garment rested warmly over his withers and down the sides of his rear and Kagome couldn't help but laugh. One hand came up to press against her mouth, suppressing the giggles that were now bubbling up her throat.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

As the moon changed its position amongst the stars, Inu-Yasha found his new servant stretched out on the cold ground. Her black hair had fallen over her face and one hand was clutched up underneath her bosom for warmth. It was a beautiful sight, with the moonlight splashing over her pale skin, and the relaxed expression that softened her features. The Roman did catch the slight shiver that ran up her body, as well as the movement further back of her horse. His golden eyes widened to see that the horse was wearing her wool cape… what the hell was the meaning of that?

Inu-Yasha quickly decided that he didn't want to know anything about her odd ideas, and scooped up his Celt. She could sleep in the tent tonight and stay warm. It was easy to get her to agree since she twisted her body to curl into his warmth. Thank Jupiter that he had removed the armour before coming to find her. Else wise she would be quite cold and uncomfortable in that position. The prefect turned and headed back towards the tent he shared with Miroku, the girl in his arms with her dress trailing along the ground.

A single black raven watched him go. The deep green-black eyes of the bird followed him before it took flight, heading northwest; back towards Britannia.

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Question of the chapter: Why is it an insult to be considered a stone in the times of the Roman Empire?

TTFN, and thanks for putting up with my slack.