Chapter 28 - Arrival
It was bright and early and not a single sign of life was visible on the Western Grounds. The tension at the castle was palpable.
Deep within the recesses of the extravagant castle, two mikos trained.
Kagome quickly progressed through her exercises. Determination hardened on her face as she employed one of the harder skills she'd learned recently.
"Enough," Jin said, "Excellent work Kagome. You've made it to the last part of your training. After this, you will know everything that is within my power to teach you. Focus now. I will not repeat anything. The key to …"
Outside of the large training chamber, the castle was buzzing with activity. Servants were running around checking and double-checking supplies while soldiers finished sharpening their weapons and were dressing themselves with chainmail and layers of armour. Horses were being fed, dressed and readied to go to war while war generals were cooped up in a small room planning out strategies and how to split the forces.
Lord Sesshomaru was in his room gazing out the large bay window. His golden eyes noticed all the fine details that recently he'd been ignoring. The way the dew drops hung from the tips of the long green grass and the way the sun shone off everything and made it seem as if nothing was wrong.
A knock sounded on the door and snapped Sesshomaru out of his reverie. "Come in," he said.
A servant bowed before informing him of the news, "Lady Aki of the Southern Lands has arrived and is awaiting your welcome."
Sesshomaru nodded and he could feel himself smirk, "Dismissed." Sesshomaru made his way down through his castle and arrived before Lady Aki within seconds, "Greetings Lady Aki."
Aki had pale skin and long lavender coloured hair tied back in a high ponytail. Her eyes were a light shade of grey and her features were soft, giving her an overall kindly appearance. Her slim figure was clad in a black, tight fitted fighter's garb with grey plates of armour hanging off her body. She carried numerous weapons including several swords hanging off her waist, hidden daggers, poison, spikes, and a spear held tightly in her hand. She grinned, revealing pointed teeth, "Hello Sesshomaru-sama."
Sesshomaru smirked, "It's been far too long, Aki-sama." He turned and began walking, gesturing for her to walk along side him.
Aki joined him without hesitation and the two skipped further formalities and dove right into war strategy.
"Good job Kagome! You got it!" Jin congratulated, beaming.
Kagome wiped her forehead and smiled widely at her teacher.
Jin's smile widened, "Why don't you take a break and freshen up?" she suggested.
Kagome nodded and silently left the room. She hurried to her room and bathed quickly, dressing herself in proper miko attire. Leaving her room, she walked around the hushed halls of the castle, gazing curiously at the frenzied servants running around.
"Lord Sesshomaru assigned each of us a unit. We should go check on it," a familiar voice said.
Kagome perked up; she recognized the voices. She ran around the corner calling, "Kiome! Kiara!"
The sisters turned at the sound of her voice and smiled widely at the sight of the human. "Kagome! It's been too long!"
"You two look like warriors!" Kagome gaped at all the weapons and armour the girls were adorned with.
"And you look like the village miko," Kiara giggled.
The girls chattered on for a while before Kagome asked for Rin.
"Oh, she's underground," at Kagome's puzzled look, Kiome continued, "There's an underground system beneath the castle. It was built years ago to protect the ones that cannot protect themselves."
"Do you think you could take me to her?" Kagome asked.
Nodding, the demonesses led the way through an intricate maze into the underground system. Kagome didn't even notice when the tall castle walls turned into sprawling caves, but eventually the girls stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. Kiome knocked loudly.
The sound of feet bounding toward the door was heard before the door dragged open loudly. Rin noticed Kagome and squealed in delight, "Okaa-san!" The little girl's arms wrapped tightly around Kagome and held on. "Okaa-san, I missed you! Where were you? Why am I down here? What's going on?"
Kagome smiled and hugged Rin back. "I missed you too Rin-chan. I was training with Jin-san. It's nothing dear. Come let's go inside." Kagome pried the girl off of her legs and led her inside.
The four females seated themselves in a circle on the large bed inside Rin's chamber.
"What's going on okaa-san?"
Kagome thought for a minute then looked at Kiome and Kiara for help.
"Nothing my dear. It's just a drill," Kiome lied.
"You'll be back upstairs in no time," Kiara added with a smile.
Rin looked at the girls as if she didn't believe them and then smiled uncertainly, "Okay… Okaa-san, how's your training been going?"
Kagome laughed, "It's been wonderful, Rin-chan."
The two redheads smiled at each other and the females continued their chatter, catching up with each other and making sure that Rin was safe and happy.
Jin opened her eyes to the empty training chamber before her. She'd been meditating ever since Kagome had left an hour ago.
She sighed; she didn't agree with Sesshomaru's decision to let the human fight.
While Jin had been training the young miko, she'd grown quite attached to her and she didn't want anything to happen to the girl.
Jin closed her eyes and sighed again, letting her shoulders slump. 'I suppose I should go fetch Kagome and continue… Sesshomaru will have my head if he finds out we're slacking so close to the war.'
Getting up, Jin followed Kagome's scent down to the tunnels below the castle. It was quite a maze. If it hadn't been for her days sneaking around with the young heir, she would've gotten lost a long time ago.
Arriving at Rin's room, Jin knocked.
"Come in."
Jin turned the metal knob and pushed the door inwards. She was surprised to see Kagome's personal servants sitting comfortably with her and Rin on the bed.
Their eyes widened at the sight of her. Immediately the two got up and bowed respectfully to the revered miko.
Jin laughed, "No need to bow to me girls. I'm just like you." Turning her attention behind the girls, she continued, "Hello Rin-chan."
Rin's bright smile faded a little, "Are you here to take mommy back?" Rin clung to Kagome's figure as she attempted to get up.
Once on her feet, Kagome stroked the girl's head affectionately, "I promise I'll come visit you as soon as I can Rin-chan." Kagome bent down and kissed Rin's forehead.
"Okaa-san, I'm scared," Rin whispered, her lower lip trembling.
Kagome wiped the girl's tears and hugged her. After reassuring her that everything was going to be alright, she followed the demonesses out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind her.
Once back in the castle, the four stopped in the main hall.
"Kiome, Kiara, this was great. Thank you for taking me to Rin," Kagome smiled and hugged both girls, "I'll see you soon."
Jin nodded to the two with a slight smile before leading Kagome away from them and back to the training chamber. They didn't have much time.
Jin ran through the material again, Kagome couldn't afford to mess up. Not now.
'I think she's ready,' Jin thought, eying Kagome's form.
Suddenly, Kagome froze.
"What is it?" Jin asked, alarmed.
Kagome stared at Jin her eyes round with fear, "They're coming."
Sesshomaru was seated in his study with Lady Aki when he thought he heard his name being called out.
Concerned, Sesshomaru excused himself from his chat with Aki and left the room. Once outside the study, he heard Kagome's unmistakable voice frantically bellowing his name. Sesshomaru raced to the miko and without hesitation, swept her up in his arms and took her to his room.
The door snapped shut behind the two and Sesshomaru finally looked down at the girl in his arms, "You called?"
Kagome's thin arms tightened around his strong neck and her cheeks coloured themselves pink.
Sesshomaru could feel her heart thundering in her chest and he couldn't help but wonder what it was that had gotten her into such frenzy.
Kagome brushed her dark hair behind her ears and quickly explained sensing the movement of a large amount of jewel shards toward the castle.
"How much time do we have?"
Kagome's eyes were wide with fright when she answered, "Not long."
Inu Yasha and the others were travelling as fast as they possibly could toward Sesshomaru's castle. As a result, it seemed to be getting bigger by the minute.
Flashback
Inu Yasha and Kayo had taken their time getting back to the campsite. Walking with Inu Yasha's arm slung over Kayo's tiny shoulders, holding her securely against him. Inu Yasha had managed to open up a little to Kayo, but not much. He didn't feel comfortable sharing so much, after all, his whole life he'd grown up keeping his feelings hidden. He couldn't just throw them out there at once.
All of a sudden, Kayo had cried out and her hands flew to her head. She fell to her knees and cried for all the pain. "Inu Yaashaa!"
"What is it Kayo? I'm right here," he said, his eyes wide and fearful. "What's wrong? Is it those headaches? Kayo!" Inu Yasha's expression became horrified when Kayo slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Picking her up, Inu Yasha ran back to the campsite.
Miroku and Sango were sitting together, gazing at the stars. Yue and Hao were nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?" Miroku asked, alarmed. He released Sango and got up.
"I don't know! She just collapsed holding her head. I think it was a headache. Quick! Do something!"
Sango shivered slightly from the sudden loss of heat and followed Miroku to Kayo's side.
Miroku closed his eyes and holding out his staff mumbled something quietly. "She's going to be okay. You're right. It was just a headache… apparently a very severe one."
Sango gazed sympathetically at Kayo before grabbing a blanket and spreading it over her limp body. "That'll keep you warm, Kayo," she murmured worriedly.
Hours later, Kayo shot up. Her eyes were wide and her breathing was heavy. "The jewel!"
Inu Yasha was instantly at her side, "What about the jewel?"
"It's a huge piece of the jewel and it's moving. I can feel it. It passed us a little while ago and it's headed toward Lord Sesshomaru's castle."
Inu Yasha stared blankly at the girl before realizing what was happening.
Naraku was going to reach Sesshomaru's castle before they were.
End Flashback
Ever since then, they'd been travelling; racing Naraku's ever-present shadow to Sesshomaru's castle. They'd gotten closer, but Naraku was still about a day and a half ahead of them.
There was no way that they could catch up to him.
Bright green eyes stared straight ahead with determination. The castle towered over them.
Butterflies began to form in his stomach.
Soon it would be time.
Kagura smirked down at the human regiment led by the foolhardy boy riding a snow white stallion. She'd recently learned his name by carrying his conversations up to her with the power of the wind.
Haru.
It hadn't been long at all since he'd started, but he'd managed to convince quite a few of the men to join him and his cause. Of all the human regiments, he led the largest. What startled her the most was that the boy had managed to get every single one of his followers a healthy mount. The trained war horses were numbered as they were and he'd secured all of them. The other men were stuck with mild, untrained, farm animals. He'd also claimed all the higher end, stronger weapons for himself and his men, leaving the older, damaged weapons to the other men.
When Haru's regiment stopped, Kagura frowned and guided her gaze to the front of the army.
There stood the one and only Naraku, staring at the lone figure of Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands.
Kagura scanned the area around him, wondering if he had been stupid enough to bring along the miko that Naraku desired.
Apparently not.
'Good. He must know that Naraku would snatch her away even before the war has formally been declared.'
Glaring distastefully at Naraku, Kagura floated away from Haru and positioned herself above her troops. Subtly bending the winds, she listened to the conversation down below.
"Greetings hanyou," Sesshomaru said silkily, watching Naraku's smirk grow nastier.
"Hello Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku breathed.
"Why have you brought all this filth onto my lands?" Sesshomaru casually flicked his eyes to the vast army behind the half-demon.
"Oh, I'm quite certain you know the answer to that."
"You're mistaken. I'm rather unaware of your intentions." A flash of white caught his eye and Sesshomaru caught the look in the rider's eyes. He fought to keep down a smirk.
Naraku's eyes narrowed, "Give me the girl Sesshomaru."
"I'm afraid I cannot comply."
Naraku smirked, "I thought you would say that. Lord Sesshomaru, unless you hand over the girl, I will be forced to declare war upon you and your castle."
Sesshomaru scoffed.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Prepare to be destroyed."
"Good luck," Sesshomaru smirked smugly before disappearing.
Glaring at the spot where the Western Lord had stood moments ago, Naraku turned and leered at his men. He couldn't help but wonder why the Western Lord had been so confident. No matter, he and his castle would soon fall.
"Okay my minions, this is it. Take him down. Find the girl and bring her back to me. Destroy everything and everyone that stands in your way."
A collective cry sounded from all the fighters that were present and they followed their master toward the Western Manor.
Haru had already discussed the plan with all of his men and they executed it flawlessly.
They paused a little before joining the stampede of demons and men toward the castle. They were near the end of the wave, with only the humans left behind them. Surely Sesshomaru wouldn't let so many rush his castle.
Sure enough, cries of agony could soon be heard within the masses. Poisonous arrows and shuriken were being thrown into the dark crowd of demons. Small groups of ninja and archers had been assigned to every thicket.
Naraku's forces climbed a hill and paused. The sight before them was one that made them all want to turn and run.
A wall of warriors that easily rivalled the size of Naraku's own force stood guarding the castle.
In front of the castle's protectors were three figures. Lady Aki, Lord Sesshomaru and Kagome stood in front of a cloud of archers, ninjas, samurai and various other types of fighters.
Naraku emerged from the front of his army and stared at Kagome. "You will be mine." With that, he began running toward the girl, his army following closely behind him.
A/N) And so it begins...