Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. I don't own any of the songs that I put into the story, except on cd's. But I do own Shiori, Miyu-Guardian-mother to Shiori & Koshin Hakogami-snow youkai from modern Japan-father to Shiori, Kil Kai-another snow demon from feudal times & Aisu-female snow demon from feudal times, they are all mine.
AN: " " is speaking, ' ' is thought
AN: I just wanted to say that I am mixing a bit here with youkai & that mentioning fey & dragons but remember that every where on Earth has it's own immortals & monsters & my character has traveled a bit. lol So I thought that I would mention that. .
And as always, thanks to those who read & enjoy my story. I had 169 hits on my last chapter, making a grand total of 16734 hits to my story! YAY! I'm glad you still like my story. And I love to here from all those that review. . :-) Hope I keep you all interested in this story. Enjoy!
Now on with the show.
Glossary:
youkai-demon
taiyoukai-demon lord
inu-youkai-dog demon
ningen-human
ookami-wolf demon
osuwari-sit
aisu-ice
houshi-monk
hentai-perv
Chapter 30: Getting Ready
The rest of the night was uneventful. Sesshomaru stayed awake all night to watch over Shiori. She still seemed to be revisited by her nightmares but with a soothing growl, she would fall back to a peaceful sleep. He also took this time to just watch her. She seemed so much more fragile while asleep than when she was awake. Awake she seemed ready and willing to take on the whole world. And even though she had the power to attempt it, here like this, she seemed like she needed to be protected.
'What am I thinking,' he asked himself and he understood that it was his youkai side that was feeling protective of this particular female. He hadn't felt this protective over anyone except Rin. 'Why her and why now?' That he couldn't answer and was almost willing to not have that question answered.
He stayed curled up with her until the sun started to rise and then he settled her on her pillow and got up. He stood for several heartbeats as he watched her curl around her pillow. She inhaled deeply and seemed to squeeze the pillow. He even saw a small smile grace her mouth before she settled again.
He filed that image away and silently left the hut, not wanting to cause a stir. He settled himself under the tree he vacated last night to watch the sun rise and wait for the others to rise as well. He didn't have to wait long before he heard a loud shriek.
"HENTAI!" This was followed by a loud smack. A few heartbeats later he heard the monk hit the floor with a loud thump.
"OW! Shiori, what was that for?" Miroku asked, rubbing the lump on his head. He was content with the cherry hand print on his cheek, but was curious as to why Shiori threw one of her shoes at the back of his head.
Without getting back up, she muttered, "That was the snooze button. I wanted five more minutes of sleep, in peace."
Kagome and Inu Yasha were trying not to laugh at their friend. They understood what she was referring to, knowing what an alarm clock was. But they didn't want to laugh outright at their friend's lumps.
"I think we should get up, now, Shiori," Kagome began, "We have a lot of traveling to do." But she snuggled back into Inu Yasha's arms and wanted to go back to sleep herself.
Shiori just moaned in protest and mumbled, "Too damn early."
"Yes, but we must get up so we can cover a bit of distance," Miroku said, trying to look cool and wise, despite the cherry hand print and lump.
With an unhappy moan, Shiori opened her eyes and sat up. She didn't try to look around for the one who left the wonderful scent on her pillow. She knew that he wouldn't be around when everyone woke up. But, she was glad that he had been. She was visited, frequently, by the demons from her past and it hadn't been pretty. 'Damn, I may even owe him one,' she thought, while reaching for a water bottle that was sitting by her back pack. She turned and saw everyone else beginning to sit up. And even though she acts like she's not very awake in the morning, she was clear headed and already thinking about the number of attacks the group has been suffering. They weren't the usual attacks, according to Kagome. The demons that had been attacking hadn't asked for the shards, but were sensing her. This would not do, but she would have to play bait to keep them from trying for Rin.
Rin's powers were growing, despite the binding. The binding didn't keep her powers from growing, just from emerging. When they come out, it's going to be large and unpredictable. It will also draw an unwanted crowd. They will have to be on the move and hopefully in the mountains by the time it breaks. They would have a better chance of surviving there.
The mountains they were heading to were the earthly domain of the Goddess of the Sun, the mother of Guardians, mikos and houshis. She resided there because it would put Her children closer to the sun, closer to Her. She loved being involved with Her children's lives. They would be able to get Her help getting to safety. They were going to need it.
So, with that resolve, Shiori grabbed her bags and glanced to Kaede as she came into the main room. "Priestess Kaede, may I borrow your back room to get dressed this morning?"
Kaede looked at the young woman's eyes and read more in the simple request. With a nod, she replied, "Of course, ye can, child. Planning on putting something in particular on?"
Shiori smiled at the older woman, pleased that she understood. "Yes, I think I need to wear something a bit more 'appropriate' for the trek. Don't you?"
Kaede just smiled and motioned for Shiori to head back to the back. Shiori grabbed both her bags and sword and proceeded to do just that. Kagome was trailing along behind her, curious.
"What exactly are you doing?" she asked, following Shiori.
"I'm tired of being caught with my pants down. So, I'm going to dress for war," Shiori answered, closing the door and setting her bags down.
"You mean, you're going to dress out?"
"Yes, I am," she unzipped her bags and began to lay out various things. First, she opened her black duffel and began to lay out an assortment of weapons; shurikan, knives, and a shoulder rig set up for two handguns. Those were flat black and lethal, Browning 9mm, along with clips.
This caused Kagome some alarm. "You can't use those here. The shells could be found later."
Now, laying out some dark clothing from her duffel, she answered, "No, they won't. They are spelled to dissolve after being fired. We are taught not to leave a trace if we can help it. It's different than here, you know that." She, then, opened her black backpack to get out a few ordinary articles of clothes; socks, bra and underwear. When she had her things laid out, she stood and began to undress. She stopped at unbuckling her belt when she heard Kagome gasp. She turned, in just her bra and jeans to find out what was wrong. And she could guess when she saw her cousin's eyes fixed on her torso. She had forgotten the concealment spell she used whenever she wasn't using clothes to cover her scarred body.
Kagome just stared at the myriad of scars crisscrossing her cousin's torso. There were many, small, large, jagged, smooth, shallow, deep. All sizes. She felt tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. She looked up and met Shiori's eyes. "I didn't know it was this bad," she whispered, saddened anew for the pain Shiori obviously went through.
Shiori just shrugged. "It's in the past, Kagome. There is nothing to be done about it now. Don't cry for what happened. Okay?" she said as gently as possible.
"Why didn't I see this earlier?"
"Because I didn't want you to. I use a simple concealment spell to cover what is not already covered by clothes. I don't like how it looks, nor the reactions I get," she stated simply, turning around to remove her bra and change it out for the other one. This one was black and a bit of a push up. It helped when wearing the shoulder rig, kept her breasts out of the way of her drawing the guns. But just before removing her jeans, she said, "Don't freak out on me. My legs are just as bad, if not worse."
"Worse?" trembled from Kagome. "How much worse?"
Shiori sighed. "Look, you don't have to hang out here. You can go and wait with the others. I'll be just a bit longer and then I'll be out."
Kagome just stayed silent for a few minutes and then nodded, "Okay, I'll be out front if you need anything." She turned to walk out of the room and was stopped by her cousin's voice.
"Hey, you don't have to worry about me, but thanks anyway."
"I know, we're family," Kagome said with a small smile and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Shiori just smiled and went back to getting out of the clothes she slept in and into the clothes she wore on missions and hunts. She pulled on a pair of black BDU pants, followed by thick boot socks. She then pulled on a black microfiber sleeveless shirt. She tucked that into her pants and buttoned them. She grabbed her shoulder rig and put it on, threading her belt through the anchor loops as well as her pants. She had a double rig, one made for two guns, with a place for extra clips. She picked up a pouch and threaded the belt through the top loop and the last belt loop before securing her belt. The pouch had straps that hugged her thigh to keep the closed pouch close her leg. She added wrist sheaths to each forearm, making sure they were snug. After this, she began to add her weapons. She checked the clips and guns before securing them in their holsters. She add long, thin dart shurikan to her left thigh pouch. In the cargo pocket on her right leg, she added a stack of star shurikan, testing the withdrawal of one. She then took out two perfectly balanced throwing knives. The edges gleamed in the morning light coming in through the window. She turned to her bags and began to put up her other clothes. She pulled out a pair of black combat boots and a long, black sleeveless jacket. She put her backpack in the black bespelled duffel, grabbed her boots and sword and walked silently back to the front room.
Everyone was sitting down eating breakfast when she walked in. She set her back by the edge of the raised floor and sat down. Kaede didn't bat an eye and handed the young woman a cup of hot tea.
"I take it, ye are ready for the journey ahead?" Kaede asked.
"You bet," Shiori said, taking a sip of the hot morning tea.
"What are you wearing?" Inu Yasha asked, curious. He'd never seen clothes like hers. And he could smell metal and something else.
"I'm dressed as I should be on a hunt," Shiori quipped. Not bothered by the curious looks she was getting from everyone. She was used to it.
"She's armed and ready for just about anything," Kagome added, a little worried after seeing the many scars hidden by clothes and spells.
"That's why I smell metal," Inu Yasha said.
"Are you expecting trouble?" Sango asked.
"Always," Shiori smiled, but then added, "It's just that the recent attacks haven't been for the shards you carry, but because of me. And maybe Rin, too. So, I want to be ready."
"Why me?" Rin asked, a little scared.
"Because of what you are, munchkin," Shiori answered softly. "We attract attention sometimes. And you aren't ready to fight them yet, but I am."
"We'll all help watch out for you, Rin," Kagome added, with nods of agreement from everyone in the hut.
"Will you teach me to fight, Shiori?" Rin asked, serious.
AN: Sorry if this is short. Hope you like it. :-)
I would like to thank my wonderful editor, ninjawarrior4life, my bro. glad you like it.
And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story from the beginning when I first started posting it. And to those who read and like it.
THX to all my readers.
