Hello everyone. Still hoping to hear from some of the other reviewers but I promised to update so here we go. Thanks for your compliment, cocoke5, but I still can't give that away yet. It will be a LONG time until we get there. Thank you byakugan-master93. I was just trying to show what some of the other characters were thinking about the whole situation. However, there is something in the chapter that is important later. So this chapter will basically begin the official adventure itself. From here on out Naraku's gloves are off, and while the group is still trying to find what the heir and Yamikura, he will not just wait for them to do so. By the way I know NOTHING about ships so there won't be very much detail with the ship itself. So let me know what you think Review.
CHAPTER XIIV
SEEING THROUGH ANOTHER
All was dark and quiet in Ionin. Kagome was moving swiftly through the silent streets as she traveled with five others. Looking to her left and right she saw the two brothers who both had claimed her as their mate. Both wore dark clothing, it looked very strange on Sesshomaru, and both were making sharp glances, examining their surroundings, as they made their way towards their ship.
The miko looked towards the night sky and found that the moon was clouded by thick, dark clouds. The young woman resisted groaning but thought ', Please not a storm.' She saw her friend grin for a moment before returning his attention to find any threats in the darkness. Kagome was glad when they finally arrived at the ship because she couldn't stand to be quiet any longer. "Not yet," a firm voice said in her thoughts.
Kagome sighed as she turned an annoyed glance towards the Northern Lord who was watching to make sure that she obeyed. He smiled lightly then turned and began to walk up the ramp where a pair of guards held two lit torches to light the way. The miko regained some of her excitement when she finally stepped on to the well built galley. She stared in amazement at the size of the large rectangular sail that was a beautiful golden color.
She finally realized that she was holding the rest of her friends up when Inuyasha became impatient and leaped over her head to gain entry. The miko was glad that she didn't scream in surprise and she had to suppress a strong desire to subdue the hanyou. Kagome stepped farther onto the ship as she admired the craftsmanship of the Western ship wrights. The miko noticed that there were already about twenty guards, both Northern and Western, on the ship besides a slightly larger, nearly as disciplined, crew.
Kagome turned back towards her friends and realized that the ramp was being raised by some of the sailors. She saw the Western Lord step closer to a demon who had an air of authority and he said softly ", Whenever you are ready Captain." The demon bowed and turned to a smaller demon near him and also said softly ", Tell the crew to hoist the anchor, it's time to start. Also tell the helmsman that we will start off heading northwest."
The miko felt a small thrill as she noticed that the ship was quickly gaining distance from the dock. After about a minute Sesshomaru said calmly ", All is well. You may all speak freely." Immediately small conversations began to break out among the soldiers and sailors, but Sesshomaru swiftly disappeared below deck. Kagome turned towards her friend and asked ", What's wrong with him?"
Healo's blue eyes flicked towards the area where his younger brother had went as he said quietly ", He is ignoring me. I doubt that this will be a relaxing trip." Kagome nodded thoughtfully as she asked ", So what exactly is this 'Tower of the Moon' place?" The demon lord smiled at her and said ", I admire your curiosity. According to Inutaisho, the tower is situated on a very large island. He said that the island's population is made up mostly of the red wolves of the Northern Lands, but that a small group of inu, and a lord's descendant, actually control it."
He paused for a moment as his eyes flickered for a few minutes. Kagome thought in awe ', He must be seeing the conversation again.' Healo's eyes flickered back to normal as he said ", The area is basically a small kingdom with an army that my father estimated contained about 20,000 soldiers, a large portion of the population. The rest maintain a small fleet and provide the food for the whole area. It was established by my possible forefather, Emperor Maleus, as a haven for the Imperial Line and for any relics or knowledge that was in danger of being lost to war."
Kagome nodded as she replied ", I see. Well, I understand why you want to look there first. Is it the only haven?" Healo shook his head and answered ", I know there must be at least one more, but I do not know its' location. My father said that he knew of another, but that he had been sworn to never reveal it. Not even to his own blood. However, he said that some of the other brothers were also told about such enclaves so there could be almost any number of such places."
The miko sagged as she imagined trying to find the information that they needed. Healo grinned apologetically and said ", You should remember that the amount of effort put in to anything affects the pleasure you feel in its accomplishment. I'm sure that we will, eventually, find what we need to end the chaos." He spoke with such simple faith and authority that Kagome was overwhelmed for a moment but eventually she asked softly ", And how many innocent people will suffer until then? How much damage will Naraku do before he is destroyed?"
The Northern Lord's eyes grew stronger as he said firmly ", That is what we must decide. The sooner we get this done, the smaller the cost. This is our responsibility, not just mine, not just yours. All of us, in one way or another, are connected to the half-demon and his lust for power," his eyes softened as guilt siphoned in. He continued in a soft tone ", I know that I must give my all to do this. My decisions helped to create this monster, and now I must ensure its' destruction before it devours everything else I love."
Silence followed this statement as the young woman watched her friend struggle with his own conflicts. She broke the quiet with a teasing voice ", Hey! Don't be too hard on yourself. Remember I'm the one who shattered the jewel." She smiled brightly which seemed to encourage her friend. He gave a soft smile and replied ", Yes, that memory was particularly entertaining, but not all that surprising. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I doubt you have ever been praised for your grace and balance."
Pretending to frown the miko replied in a haughty voice ", I have had people compliment me on that before." Healo smiled secretively as he said ", Beware my friend. Remember that I have the key into all your thoughts. Lying to one such as I would be extremely difficult." Kagome smiled again as she answered ", Yah. Well. I like challenges so I guess that I'm excused then." The demon grinned as he replied ", For Kagome only, I will make an exception."
His smile disappeared suddenly as he said in a serious tone ", Perhaps you should go rest. It is after midnight, after all, we won't arrive until right before sunset tomorrow. You will need your energy, I'm sure that these people will be interested in meeting outsiders." Kagome huffed, what was it with all the males in her life bossing her around? But she was starting to feel tired, and most of the people, except for some of the sailors and guards, were going deeper into the ship to find what rest they could.
She nodded and allowed herself to be led to a small room with two beds jutting out of the wall. The miko heard her friend say softly ", I am afraid that this is the best we can do. You and Lady Sango, when she decides to come down, will both stay in this room. All of my brothers agree that this is a prudent arrangement, and Inuyasha affirmed that you would rather stay in here then in a larger room with males."
After this everything became hazy until Kagome realized that she was asleep in her bed. Her dreams, which were many, were at first a jumble of bits and pieces of her life. However, soon she began to see various things that she knew had not happened to her. For a long time she was confused as to what was going on until she happened to glance in the very lake of the in the Western Palace. That was when she saw the dark blue eyes, and dark hair of the Northern Lord. 'What's going on here?' the young woman thought as she watched everything that was happening from her friends eyes.
A loud noise awoke her as she sat up in her small bed. She was surprised to find that Sango was already standing with a tensed look. Kagome heard what sounded like various people talking and asked ", What's going on?" Sango only shook her head as she said carefully ", I don't know, but I don't like it. Stay here and I'll go find out what's wrong." The miko didn't respond as the demon slayer silently left the room. Usually Kagome would listen and wait for someone to tell her everything was ok, but not today. Especially since she wanted to see what was going on.
Kagome slowly crept out of her room and began moving in the area where she thought the voices were coming from. When she finally arrived in the door way she looked through and found a group of soldiers, her fellow companions, and three of the brothers speaking to the fourth. The miko was frightened by the strange, dead expression that was reflected in Healo's eyes. The Northern Lord said softly ", I'm sorry to have awakened you. I'm sure that it was just a bad dream."
The soldiers seemed to be placated and left the room quickly but the others, including Kagome, moved closer to the demon lord. The miko was surprised when Sesshomaru asked with a frown ", What was that brother? I know that you accidentally revealed some of your own memories, but you also, at least with me, made me relive some of my own memories." Healo sighed as he answered quietly ", I think I may know why it happened. I believe that only you four should have experienced it," he nodded towards his three brothers and towards Kagome.
The demon lord paused for a moment before asking ", What area were we in just a short time ago?" Sesshomaru blinked his eyes in understanding and answered ", We were heading due north. So you believe it is because we passed too close to the Northern Lands?" Healo replied in a quiet tone ", Yes. I have the least control when I am asleep, and when you add that with being nearer to the one who helped to nearly destroy everything that I had. This caused me to lose control and push images of what I had seen, and also some of your own memories."
Kagome nodded in amazement. She spoke up carefully and said ", So. What can you do to stop it?" The Northern Lord turned to his friend and answered in a resigned tone ", Only time and acceptance of the past will aid me. Eventually the pain should begin to go away. However, you have to remember that a mate is far more important in the demon world than in that of humans." The miko nodded as she glanced around at the others, the only other humans seemed sympathetic but confused, Magus seemed saddened, Inuyasha had a strangely thoughtful expression, but Sesshomaru for a moment seemed to feel sorry for his brother.
The miko took all of this to heart as she looked over her companions. As she went to go back to bed she thought ', Well, at least it hasn't been a boring trip so far.' A loud voice answered in her mind ", No I don't believe you will ever have to worry about a lack of entertainment." Kagome smiled as she felt the tinge of humor in his statement; she had given him some encouragement. Plus she had learned that Sesshomaru still had to care for his brother, despite his words. This meant that there might be some hope for him yet.
Ok. So sorry that I am late. I had to go to a bunch of graduation practices and then my sister broke some of her toes so I had to help her. Happy about the response I got for the last chapter so let me know what you think about this one. I'm graduating this weekend so the update won't be till Monday. Sorry for the inconvenience but I have to think about all that stuff. So remember to review. Next chapter will be more important. REVIEW!!!