Chapter three guyss.
It was deep into the evening by the time Kagome had decided to meet the troops. They had already set up camp outside the Slayers village. The troops were uneasy about staying with demon slayers. Another section of the West was in charge of diplomacy with these dangerous humans. The general and his men were in the business of war, not walking on egg shells around suicidal humans.
Soft footfalls in the snow had alerted them to her arrival. "Miko." The general immediately stood up to greet her. She was dressed as oddly as many had described. As most inuyokai he was tall and strongly built. Frankly he towered over Kagome, but she did not cower. "Daiyoukai. What do you need of me?" The General had heard that the Miko who killed Naraku had not aged. Twenty five years was a large chunk of a human's life span. But here she was as youthful as a young adult should be. This confirmed the rumors that were circulating around, the Shikon Miko had not aged. There were so many theories and each was as ridiculous as the next.
"My lord has requested your presence. Many are concerned about the whereabouts of the Shikon Jewel and Tessaiga." Kagome scoffed rudely as fire lit her eyes. "Daiyoukai. I am Kagome. What is your name?" The General straightened his posture his expression unchanging. "My name is Kazou... of the Western army." Kagome hummed taking in his appearance. His hair was slate grey and short. His eyes were emerald and unlike most inuyokai Inuyasha had known. His cloths and armor were the colors of the West. But many of the other troops wore finer things. Kagome found this odd. "Well Kazou of the West, the Jewel isn't anyone's concern, even the 'four lords'. It is MY responsibility. MY concern. If these individuals were so concerned, then where were they during the final battle? Not present, therefore it is not their concern. It is mine. Tessaiga is also mine. Inutaichou gave me his blessing when I lifted it from his tomb. Would you question the former lord of whom the fang belonged?" Kagome was so heated she might as wel have been spitting out fire instead of words. People always wanted to butt in after the hard work was done and Kagome was not having it.
Kazou was taken aback by the ferocity of her eyes. They burned as if they were made from blue flames. Never had he been so scolded by simply looking at a human. Even though his relationship with humans never been good, he had a healthy respect for them. But to be talked to in such a way surprised him. He wasn't sure how to respond, on both fronts he could not argue. He was merely to bring the Miko to the west by force if not peacefully. His troops reached for their blades, but he motioned for them not to draw them. Lord Sesshoumaru had advised him against fighting the Miko. Apparently she could turn demons to dust with a simple touch.
"I'm merely following orders Miko. Our people are also inquiring about Inuyasha-sama, Lord Sesshoumaru's successor." Kagome's eyes turned to stone, that was a a touchy subject. She had a interest in this general. He was no simple inyoukai, his energy felt too much like her sons. It was something she could not ignore. But at the same time he annoyed her. "Inuyasha is dead. There is nothing to inquire about. I have other things that need attending to. If Sesshoumaru wants to inquire of Inuyasha. He may do so in person." She turned her back to the general, walking towards the gates; the ultimate disrespect.
"Kohaku!" She called to the young man by the gate with a yellow pack and his own things. "Yes Kagome-sama?" He smiled softly, his eyes threatening as they bore into Kazou's form. "We leave now." Kazou felt great weight on his shoulders, his knees buckled and it took all his strength not to fall. A few troops fell with a cry, they looked as if they were bowed to the ground in prayer. The Miko's energy had made the air heavy for DaiYoukai. If they had been lesser he was sure they would have died. The pair took off on a odd looking Nekomata who remained unaffected. The western troops and their General were unable to follow. Lord Sesshoumaru was going to be very displeased.
"Well they were certainly rude Kagome-sama!" Kohaku huffed as he held on to the nekomata tightly. He had learned from both his mother and father about the events of the last battle. He knew even the most gruesome of details. Sometimes his Father would just stare into the fire and re-account the events as if he was there still. Inuyasha-sama's death, the jewel and Naraku's demise, Kohaku knew it all. His mother often said he was too much like his father. They had a sort of apathy for certain things that most couldn't stomach. But seeing Kagome look forward with dull eyes made Kohaku hurt inside. Kagome had not judged him or tried to change him. Even his parents did not understand is preferences. But guilt lead them to tolerate it at best. Somehow Kohaku knew that Kagome was going to grow to be important to him.
"Kagome-sama... I swear my life and loyalty to you. Where you go I would be honored to follow." In a odd moment of seriousness Kohaku had shocked Kagome out of her daze. She had been thinking to deeply of the past. She felt oddly about such a vow, but she wouldn't refuse him. Refusal would only cause him to feel disgraced. So Kagome pulled up a big smile. "Well we should go man hunting then! If you mean to be in my service then you will need a life span to match!" She laughed, only half serious. Vaguely she thought that Kazou and Kohaku would make a handsome pair. But if he was in Sesshomaru's service then he was probably prickly. Kohaku's eyes seemed to sparkle brightly. "I was hoping Kagome-sama would think so!" That had made Kagome smile for real this time.
They travelled for about two hours or so. "Maneki down into that clearing." Kagome had noticed him tiring as they went on. He was still young and did not have Kirara's battle hardened stamina. The trio made camp after Maneki landed. The tired Nekomata settled into Kagome's scarf that hung around Kagome's neck. The snow had lightened this morning and completely stopped by noon. Kagome taught Kohaku how to set up her fancy modern tent before starting the fire. You may wonder how a family sized tent fit into a raggedy backpack. Kagome had the old thing enchanted some years ago. It felt wrong to part with it. But now she could fit anything she could ever need in it.
After Maneki was good and rested, he bounded off into the woods. Not long after he dropped a freshly killed deer at her feet. Maneki was smug over the praise he received. Kagome certainly knew how to skin and gut the animal. She had done so many times in Inuyasha's company. It would bring back too much she did not want to recall. Kagome looked to Kohaku with big eyes. The young man merely sighed and set to work on the animal. Maneki was given the organs neither Kohaku or Kagome desired. Kagome cooked the meat with a practice ease. They ate in a content silence. "Kohaku?"
"Yes Kagome-sama?" Kohaku sat next to her, while he enjoyed a full stomach and a warm fire. "What do you think of the West's request of me?" The young man hummed in thought. "The West requests nothing of you. They demand. Kagome-sama may have respect and honor to among us humans. But to Daiyoukai you are just another human. If you had not suppressed the movement of the troops... I am sure they would have used force to bring you to the West." Kagome had figured as much. She would wait until Sesshoumaru felt it fitting to seek her out. Kagome may have understood how inuyokai operated, but if she had been born a youkai, she was sure that she would have been a fox. Kumiho and Shippo were evidence of this. She wished Sesshoumaru luck finding her.
Days had passed and they had finally reached Totosai. Kagome had introduced Kohaku to Totosai. Kohaku had been brimming with excitement and had excused himself to go hunting with Maneki. It would be rude to bombard the old man with his questions.
Totosai had been expecting them. "Curious boy." Totosai has murmured as he stroked his beard. "He has a vast interest in weapons. He'd do well as a great sword smith like yourself." Kagome winked as she started a cooking fire. "Too bad he's a human... It's rare I see such a honest love for weapons. I'm gettin' old I want to teach my craft and move on." Totosai stretched his creaking bones for emphasis. Kagome's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I'm greedy in my time as a immortal. Perhaps I will find a good strong Daiyoukai to be mated to Kohaku." Totosai laughed loudly with crinkled eyes. She wished she hadn't sounded so serious."Be sure to have that boy come by and become my apprentice." Kagome simply nodded. She took care of those that were hers.
"Is this about Tessaiga? It broke my heart when it perished. Fumbling pup..." Totosai grumbled obviously in mourning. Whether it was for Inuyasha or Tessaiga she was not sure. Kagome had not even considered Tessaiga till Kazou had mentioned it. She felt guilty that it had just left it in pieces. It had shattered during the final battle. "There is not much left of Tessaiga... I have the remains of it. Would you like to reforge it?" She inquired. Not exactly sure how the old demon would respond. "I might as well melt the poor thing down completely and give it new life... but I need fangs for that. That cunning old hounds' fang is about ground into dust. I would need the fang of Sesshoumaru." He scratched his beard in thought, before brightening up completely. "I would also need a tooth of yours Kagome."
Kagome huffed loudly with crossed arms. "Those don't exactly grow back!" Totosai merely went to retrieve his pliers. "Open wide." Slightly annoyed Kagome did as requested. "Ohhh nice strong teeth these are... hmm I want the canine!" He chuckled joyously with sparking eyes. It didn't take much force on Totosai's part to remove the tooth. But Kagome pulled away with a yelp; gums bleeding. She covered her mouth and wished for Ice. Totosai inspected the tooth curiously. "... Kagome? Do you know what properties are pumping through this tooth of yours?" That's all that was said and he murmured to the tooth almost lovingly. Kagome had just shrugged and gave Totosai the shards of what was Tessaiga. The blade had splintered off into 4 large shards and 10 considerably small ones. The hilt was the only thing that remained intact. It was funny how Inuyasha had shattered his heirloom just as she had shattered the jewel. Thankfully it was not as hard to collect.
"Since it will be some time until I have gained a fang from Sesshoumaru, I have a fang for you to craft into a spear Totosai. It's from a fox demon from a foreign land." She handed him the sharp fang and the old youkai was practically giddy. "It will be a fine spear." Kagome smiled softly as she rubbed her hands together. "If it would not be so much trouble I would also like to commission a blade for Kohaku. While he has taken great care of the one in his possession... I think a sentient blade would suit him longer." Totosai just reached for his pliers. "Open up Kagome~~" She had almost been expecting that. She did as requested. "Looks like that ol' tooth of yours has already grown back in!" He tapped it lightly and it hurt at the touch. "But I think I'll need the other canine since that one is fresh and new." Kagome rolled her eyes. While she was hoping it would grow back she was not completely sure. With a quick pull her other tooth left the only home it knew.
"What on Earth are two human teeth going to do?" She whined holding her again bleeding mouth. Totosai looked at her mischievously. "Two human teeth aren't worth a lick. But two teeth of a earth bound God... Kagome they are surely worth this Volcano's weight in gold." He left her with that and set off to work. Kagome was left with a heavy heart and what he had said. Totosai had lived longer then she could image. "Kagome? Be a dear and fetch some wood from Bokuseno." Totosai waved her off. She was sure her and Kohaku's were no longer needed here. So she went off to find her silly Nekomata and even sillier Kohaku.