Chapter 13: My Western Ally
For the next two hours, Kagome had explained to everyone of what happened to her before she was reborn in Konoha. Everyone was shocked to find out that Kagome had accomplished a lot in her past life, but they felt sorry for her when she mention of Inuyasha's betrayal. Also, during that time, Shippo introduced his kits to Kagome's friends since they didn't get to tell their names when Kagome and the others arrived. The girl with the short black hair was Ayaka. The girl with long brown auburn hair was Natsuki and the boy with the same colored hair as Natsuki was Natsuo.
"Wow, you were able to make bonds with yōkai, hanyō, and humans, Kagome-chan?" Iruka asked, interested.
"Hai, I'm glad that I adopted Shippo. He's become quite a powerful and very polite kitsune, right Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome asked.
"Hai, he is very powerful in his own right. I have to admit that he's almost as powerful as me." Sesshomaru said.
"I also thank you for training him in my absence, Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said.
"It's only natural that he should learn to fight when he got older, miko." Sesshomaru said.
"Hai, you're right about that." Kagome said.
"So Shippo-sama is the summoning boss of your kitsunes, Kagome?" Kakashi asked.
"Hai." Kagome said. The sound of someone's stomach growling echoed around the room. Everyone looked towards Naruto who was scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Why don't you stay here for the night? You can leave tomorrow if you wish." Sesshomaru said.
"We would gladly accept, Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said, smiling.
The dinner was somewhat quiet except that Shippo's family kept asking questions about Kagome and Naruto's adventure at the Land of Waves. Everyone was impressed by the way they handled the mission.
"This Zabuza was no demon at all." Sesshomaru said before taking a sip of his sake.
"I agree with you on that one, Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said.
"Somehow that guy reminds me of Naraku." Shippo said, tapping his chin.
"Now that you mention it, he did remind me of him." Kagome said, placing her finger on her chin as she thought about the first time they encountered Zabuza.
"So they named a bridge after you, Naruto-kun?" Sōten asked.
"Hai! I didn't know until after we got off the bridge when Kagome-chan told me." Naruto said.
"We want to see it!" The three kits said, smiling.
"We'll see it someday." Shippo said.
"It's a sight to see, Shippo-sama." Naruto said.
"I bet." Shippo said.
Then dinner ended and both parties went into the baths. The males and females went into separate baths.
"This is heaven." Naruto said, sighing as he laid back in the spring.
"I agree with you fully on that Naruto-kun." Iruka said.
"I didn't think that Kagome would know a powerful royal." Kakashi said.
"Sesshomaru is highly respected amongst all of the yōkai war lords. Afterall, inu and kitsunes are just as strong as dragons. Sadly, there aren't much dragons left. Also, Kagome happens to be the only miko that Sesshomaru-sama acknowledges and respects." Shippo said.
"Really?" Iruka asked, amazed.
"Yeah, truth be told, Sesshomaru-sama is actually stronger than me and Koga. But Kagome is nearly as strong as Sesshomaru." Shippo said.
"How so, Shippo-sama?" Kakashi asked, curious. He wondered how Sesshomaru and Kagome are equally powerful.
"Sesshomaru is a powerful swordsman including the poison abilities he inherited from his mother, he's considered an enemy you don't want to come across. Well, a human wouldn't stand a chance against him, let alone a shinobi." Shippo said.
"That powerful, huh?" Naruto asked, amazed.
"Sometimes, I wonder if Sesshomaru's father is proud of him." Shippo said.
"Why do you ask that, Shippo-sama?" Iruka asked.
"Sesshomaru's father died when Inuyasha was born. He sacrificed himself to save Inuyasha and his mother. So Sesshomaru had grown up half of his life without his father. Inuyasha never even had the chance to meet his father." Shippo said.
"What about his mom?" Naruto asked.
"She died a few years later." Shippo said.
"So he mostly grew up alone?" Kakashi asked, sadly. He remembered the days after his father died and how he grew up without any parents.
"Hai. Somehow, you and Inuyasha have the same circumstances, Naruto-kun." Shippo said.
"How?" Naruto asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Hanyō are treated quite horribly in both societies. For yōkai, hanyō are more lower that a human. For humans, they're more dangerous than a yōkai." Shippo said.
"I know the feeling." Naruto said, sadly. He remembered all those times when the villagers would always put him at a distance between him. Parents would tell their children to stay away from him and others would throw rocks at him. Also they would beat him and call him names.
"I know that one day, people will accept you, Naruto-kun." Shippo said, putting his hand on Naruto's right shoulder.
"Thank you, Shippo-sama." Naruto said. Shippo ruffled his hair causing Naruto to giggle.
"This feels so good." Hana said, sighing.
"I can't remember the last time I visited a hot spring." Kagome said.
"Sesshomaru-sama always has the best hot springs." Ayaka said, smiling.
"That is so true." Natsuki said, smiling.
"Hey, I forgot to ask you something, Sōten-sama." Kagome said.
"What is it, Kagome-chan?" Sōten asked.
"Where's Rin? I haven't seen her since I got here." Kagome said.
"Well, she married to one of Sesshomaru's trusted generals. It was love at first sight for the two of them. They live in a separate house from the palace." Sōten said.
"I'm glad that she was able to find happiness with someone." Kagome said.
"What about you, Kagome-chan?" Ayaka asked.
"Huh?" Kagome asked.
"Do you have a crush on anyone?" Ayaka asked.
"No, I'm so focused on being a kunoichi that I'm not really interested in guys." Kagome said.
"Really? No one at all?" Ayaka asked.
"Hai, even though I had a bit of a fan club back at the academy." Kagome said.
"You know, Kohaku is a genin in Kumo." Sōten said.
"Kohaku is still alive?" Kagome asked, shocked. She didn't know that Sango's little brother was alive in the shinobi world. Maybe Midoriko gave Kohaku another chance in life.
"Hai, he's also Dad's summoner as well." Natsuki said, smiling.
"I hope I get to meet him someday." Kagome said. She was looking forward to meet Kohaku once more. She hoped that he was doing well for himself.
"The last time Shippo had spoken to him was that he was getting ready to go to the Chūnin exams." Sōten said.
"The Chūnin exams?" Kagome asked.
"Hai, they'll probably be in Konoha soon." Hana said.
"The location for the exam this year is Konoha, right?" Kagome asked.
"Hai, maybe you'll see him there." Hana said, smiling.
"Me, too." Kagome said, smiling.
Sesshomaru was standing in the gardens as he looked up at the full moon. He was glad that Kagome was still alive. Truth be told, he did miss her over the years since she disappeared in the bone-eater's well. Rin missed her terribly as much as the demon slayer and the monk did. Then a familiar scent hit his nose.
"Hatake, I know you're there." Sesshomaru said, without turning around. Kakashi poked his head out from behind the pillar.
"Inu sure have powerful sense of smell." Kakashi said as he walked over to stand next to Sesshomaru.
"Indeed." Sesshomaru said.
"Hey, is it true of what your brother did?" Kakashi asked.
"Hai. He was a fool." Sesshomaru said.
"He didn't know that he had a good thing until he lost it." Kakashi said. Sesshomaru sighed.
"My little brother decided to remain in the past instead of facing the future." Sesshomaru said, looking back up at the moon.
"I see." Kakashi said.
"Perhaps he will never learn from his past mistakes." Sesshomaru said.
"In order to move forward, we have to learn from our past mistakes in order to get stronger." Kakashi said.
"I agreed with you on that, Hatake. But now, I have a question for you." Sesshomaru said.
"What is it, Sesshomaru-sama?" Kakashi asked, curious.
"Why do you always have a mask on?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Oh, well. I guess I like wearing it." Kakashi said.
"I can tell that you're lying to me, Hatake. You can never lie to an inu." Sesshomaru said.
"I didn't know that. But I guess it's because of my dad." Kakashi said.
"Your father?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Everyone kept saying that I was a spitting image of him." Kakashi said.
"But that's not all of it, is it?" Sesshomaru asked. Kakashi sighed. He now knew that he couldn't really lie to the Western lord. So he told his story about his father, the after effects his failed mission, and how he committed suicide. Then Sesshomaru told Kakashi the story of his father and how he died.
"After he died, I hated my brother and humans as well." Sesshomaru said, "It took me a long time to finally realize why my father died for Izayoi and my little half brother."
"And what was it?" Kakashi asked.
"He cared for Izayoi and my little half brother. He fought for the ones he loves. That's where his true power laid." Sesshomaru said, "I'm proud to say that he's my father."
"I'm proud of my father as well." Kakashi said, looking up at the moon.
It was the next morning, Kagome's group were leaving Sesshomaru's lands and start heading towards Konoha. Shippo's family were sad that Kagome had to leave, but she had to. Kagome and Naruto told them that they would be back to visit them, which made the kits squeal with excitement. Here they stood in the front of the summoning circle. They knew that the moment they would step into the circle, they would go back to Konoha.
"Thanks for letting us stay here, Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said.
"It's nothing, miko. I'm just glad to finally meet with a friendly ally of mine." Sesshomaru said.
"I'm glad as well." Kagome said.
"Remember, if you need anything, you know where to find me." Sesshomaru said.
"Hai!" Kagome said.
Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
- Octvaia Butler
