InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cross of Blades ❯ Transferals and the Beginnings of the Moon ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Yeah, I don’t own it. I don’t know what to tell you guys. It depresses me to no end, but sad to say I can’t talk anyone into giving it to me. I can’t buy it cause well... (reaches in pocket and pulls out a recipe card, blackjack chip {WTF?!!} and a wine bottle opener) Do you think anyone will take this and just give me Sesshoumaru?





Chapter 13: Juromaru’s Destruction


She sniffed and opened her eyes slowly, chocolate brown orbs scanning the wall in front of her and her outstretched arm. She pulled the blankets over her naked form, closed her eyes and rolled over, her hand outstretched and reaching for another. Her eyes opened again when she found the remaining space on the little twin bed to be empty then looked up at the bathroom door across from her as the sound of water running touched her fogged senses.



‘I wonder what he’s doing in there,’ she thought to herself as she wrapped the sheet around her and stood up. ‘Hopefully he’s not staring in the mirror again. He’s been doing that a lot lately. I wonder what brought on this sudden fascination with his face.’


)(


Inuyasha plunged his hands in the steaming hot water and splashed his face, the steaming droplets trickling down his face to his jawline while he blindly stumbled for a towel. He quickly dried himself off and stood up, the gray Garden issue towel still covering his face as he steeled himself.


‘Come on Inuyasha,’ he said to himself as he inhaled the strangely pleasant lemon scent coming from the fluffy material. ‘It’s just a mirror. You need to stop this. People are going to think you’ve got some kind of complex.’ He sighed, his ears drooping slightly, and dropped the towel. He cracked open one eye, then the other and sighed in relief. “Good,” he growled lightly as he raised his bangs away from his forehead. “It’s not there. That’s a relief.” He sagged slightly against the sink’s basin, his thoughts centered and far away as the bathroom door creaked open.


“Inuyasha?”


An ear twitched toward the door, then Inuyasha straightened himself and glanced over at Kikyou as she stood in the doorway. A bedsheet was firmly wrapped around her slender figure and her brown eyes shone with worry.


“Inuyasha, what’s wrong?”


“Nothing,” he grunted absently. He turned off the faucet and moved to walk past her when she raised her arm across the threshold and blocked his path. “Kikyou, come on,” he complained wearily. “I don’t want to do this right now. It’s to early in the frigging morni-“

“What’s going on with you?” Kikyou interrupted with a stern look. “And don’t say nothing because I can feel your feelings through your mark. What’s wrong?” She frowned when he ducked her arm and walked into the room, his intent obviously to ignore her as she followed along behind him. “Inuyasha, I’m serious,” she warned while he opened his closet and began to search for something to wear. “I know something’s the matter with you. Whatever it is, it didn’t start until after the week Kagome and Sesshoumaru disappear-“ She stopped when he sighed, his arm coming up to prop against the closet threshold and shoulders sagging despondently. “Inu-Inuyasha?”



Inuyasha looked up when Kikyou gently grasped his forearm, her eyes wide and concerned and her touch comforting. “You really want to know huh?” he asked and wasn’t surprised when she nodded. He turned and shut the closet door, then sat down at his desk and plunked Kikyou into his lap. “Ok, I guess I’ll admit that I have been acting weird.”


“You’re telling me,” Kikyou agreed. “You’re so nervous all of a sudden and you keep looking into mirrors. It’s like you’ve developed some kind of narcissism. Why?”


“It’s kind of a long story,” Inuyasha warned her. “You sure you want to hear it?”


“Positive.”


Inuyasha sighed and scratched his ears. “Fine, but to understand I’ve got to go back a few thousand years.”


“What for?” Kikyou asked and frowned when he placed a clawed finger against her lips.


“I’m getting to that you know,” he growled. “So gimme a chance to.” He nodded at her apology and quietly gathered his thoughts before beginning. “See, a couple of hundred thousand years ago, the youkai of the world decided to divide Spira into fourths. A certain clan would rule over the youkai of each section and have influence over whatever precious minerals found in the region. The humans of the lands agreed to this so long as the youkai agreed not to interfere with the humans and their way of doing things.”


“Is this a history lesson?” Kikyou interrupted suddenly. Inuyasha huffed rolled his eyes. “Hey, don’t do that!” he reprimanded irritably. “I’m trying to remember what Sesshoumaru and I learned a few years ago and you’re messing with me!”


“Sorry,” Kikyou giggled sheepishly. “Keep going.”


“Man,” Inuyasha continued to gripe. “Now where was I...Oh yeah. Ok. Um...anyway, the youkai of the lands fought it out until there were four clans left standing: the inus, the ookamis, the kitsunes and the panthers. Those four divided the land equally with the panthers getting the east, the inus getting the west, the kitsunes got the south and the ookamis got the north.”


“So what you’re saying,” Kikyou interrupted yet again. “Is that that one time where you and I were at your house and that little flea kept calling you ‘lord’ and ‘master’ he actually meant that you’re a lord or something?”


“You know, I was just getting to that,” Inuyasha grumbled. “But yea, that’s pretty much it. Pop’s the Galbadia Taiyoukai, Kouga’s pop is the Trabia Taiyoukai, one of the panthers that attacked you is heir to the Esthar Taiyoukai and there used to be a Centra Taiyoukai but he and his clan were wiped out during one of the Lunar Cries. No one’s bothered to reclaim the south because it’s practically a wasteland.”


“Oh. Ok then. I understand.”


‘I’m thrilled,’ Inuyasha quipped with a wry grin. “Anyway, like I said, they decided this thousands of years ago, so once everything was squared away and decided the four youkai clans went to a miko by the name of Yuna...Luna...something like that. Anyway, the summoner-“


“Hey, wait a sec,” Kikyou interjected. “You said miko earlier. Now its summoner. What’s the difference?”


“There isn’t one,” Inuyasha explained, this time deciding that there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop her from interrupting so there wasn’t any use to getting mad. “Back then, the only people that could use GFs were called summoners, but those same summoners tended to have purification abilities. Now stop interrupting. You’re making me think to damned hard as it is.”


“Oh, and we don’t want that now do we?” Kikyou teased and squeaked when he poked her in the side. “I’m just kidding, jeez.”


“That’s what I thought. Now um...oh yeah! They went to this summoner/miko/ whatever to get her help with choosing what symbols and other stuff. They wanted to make sure no one would mistake one leader for another (though how anyone would when they all were different species is beyond me) and figured that summoner would know what to do. She took certain elements that were already on the lands and used them for a guide. And before you ask...” Inuyasha said as Kikyou opened her mouth.


“She used jewel colors found on the land. Galbadia’s got mines with sapphires, Trabia’s got emeralds, Esthar’s got opals-“


“I remember that!” Kikyou chirped.


“And Centra had black and clear diamonds but like I said, everything there was destroyed during one of the Lunar Cries. Anyway, the miko took the jewel and created the seals and the enchantment she put on our blood.”


“What enchantment?” Kikyou asked as she fiddled around with a nearby lock of snowy white hair. “And is it a curse or something?”

“It’s not a curse,” Inuyasha assured her. “We got the sapphire crescent, I think the others got an emerald wind mark, an opal snowflake and a funny diamond. One half was colored black while the other was just outlined in it. Anyway, she put the spells on our bloodline too. The spells are designed so that only the next heir gets the mark. Pop had the blue crescent before he became taiyoukai, his pop had the blue crescent before him and Sesshoumaru has the crescent now. It’ll go away once he has a son...or something else happens.”


“Like what?” Kikyou whispered softly, fully aware of how drastic Inuyasha’s mood had become. “Inuyasha, is it something bad?”


“I’ve always been told that there would only be two ways for me to get the mark,” Inuyasha told her just as softly. “Sesshoumaru has to become either mentally or physically unable to rule. So if he dies....”


“If he dies then you get the mark,” Kikyou quickly realized. “Oh Inuyasha, I’m so sorry! No wonder you’ve been acting funny!”


“Yeah well, you know how Shippou’s been moping around, telling everyone that he knew Kagome was still alive and everything. Well with the way everyone’s been treating him...I guess I kinda figured that I should just handle it myself.”


“You don’t ever have to handle anything by yourself,” Kikyou lovingly whispered as she embraced him. “I love you and you know that anything that bothers you bothers me too.”


“Yeah, I know,” Inuyasha nodded as he hugged her back. “It’s just that...with Sesshoumaru gone and all, I’ve been thinking and...”


“Yeah?” Kikyou asked before pulling away to gaze into his face. “Thinking what?”


“That it would really suck if he died and all we ever did was fight. I mean, that’s all we’ve ever done is fight one another. Sure, we fight other people too but we pretty much tried to kill each other whenever we thought we would get away with it.” Inuyasha sighed again, this time with a soft laugh and a gentle shake of his head. “I guess it just kinda got old. I’m tired of fighting with him and I don’t want my only memory of him to be me goin’ for his throat. I’m not fighting him anymore if he comes back. If he wants a fight he’ll just have to get one from someone else.”


“That’s so mature of you Inuyasha,” Kikyou grinned before hugging him again. “I’m so proud of you.”


“Yea well-” Inuyasha blushed when she kissed the tip of his nose and rubbed hers against it. “Don’t tell anyone else ok?”


“Who would I tell?” Kikyou replied with a sly grin. “No one would believe me anyway.” She jumped up when he growled and made to chase her but the both of them stopped at a knock on the door.

“Um...what?” Inuyasha hollered and paled when the voice of one of the Garden’s staff members came through the metal framework.


“Private Endo? I have an urgent message for you.”


“Oh shit!” Inuyasha whispered while Kikyou began to panic. “Look, quit freaking out ok! Um....”


“Gotta hide-Gotta hide-Gotta hide!” Kikyou chanted softly as she looked around the room. Her eyes fell on the closet and she practically pounced on the door, Inuyasha looking on as she dove for the darkness near the floor and slid the door closed behind her.


“Well, that’s one way of doing it,” Inuyasha growled to himself as he tightened the towel around his hips and cracked the door open. “What?!” he barked gruffly and inwardly grinned when the staff member jumped in spite of himself. “What do you want now?!”


“I-I have a message for you from Headmaster Leonheart,” the staff member replied as he handed over a manilla envelope. “He wants you to meet him in front of the Directory in three hours with enough clothes to last you for four days.”


“Fine whatever,” Inuyasha growled absently before slamming the door in the staff member’s face. He locked the door securely, then placed a nearby chair in front of it before opening the closet door. “It’s ok now,” he said as she peered up at him from between his jeans. “He’s gone.”


“So you’re leaving?” she asked as she crawled out and shook the dust bunnies out of her hair. Inuyasha nodded and pulled his duffle bag from the closet’s confinements. “Yeah, but it’s only going to be for four days. I’ll be back before you know it.”


“Yeah, I know,” Kikyou replied with a nod. “How ‘bout I help you pack?”


“Sure, why not?” Inuyasha nodded. “That way we can get to breakfast faster. I’m starving!”


II


Violet blue eyes focused on the distance as the sun set above the quiet mountain town, the sky turning various beautiful shades of orange, yellow and purple as the first of thousands of stars began to appear in the rapidly darkening sky. He loved this time of day, when everything and everyone wound down and prepared for the night. He remembered when he first came to this little town after flunking his SeeD exam for the third and final time. His friend -who also scored poorly on the exams- had somehow managed to talk him into moving to this remote part of the world, spinning stories of how the sleepy little town was in need of someone to protect and defend it from the rampaging monsters that plagued it from the cliffs around it. Of course when they arrived they only found a bunch of caterchipillers and bite bugs, but they were a plague on the elderly that resided in the town. He agreed to his friend’s harebrained idea to become the town’s guardians, their ‘monster hunters’ and hadn’t stopped to look back since. It was here he met his first love and lost his best friend, that schemer of a man who uprooted him from his life at the Garden and deposited him into Paradise.


“Thanks Onigumo,” he whispered to a passing breeze. “I’ll never forget you my friend.” He turned when the door creaked and his wife stepped into the small room, her salt and pepper hair pulled back in a tight top knot and her hands running down her apron as she smiled at him. He remembered her smile too, one that he dreamt about for a long time after their first meeting so many years ago. He had rescued her from a group of caterchipillers and she in turn had clocked him upside the head for using her gratitude to caress her backside. He chuckled softly to himself, attracting the woman’s attention to him as she stopped to stare.


“Alright, what is it?” she demanded as she reached for the cane leaning against the door. “It’d better not be anything perverse Kyo.”


“Of course not my dear,” he assured her with a loving smile. “I was only thinking about the past.”


“Sure you were,” she drawled with disbelief, then frowned and sat down at a nearby table. “How do you think Miroku’s doing?”


“I don’t know, but I’m sure the lad is fine,” he assured her as he hobbled over to comfort her. He frowned deeply at his lack of grace, cursing the swarm and his inattention that cost him his best friend and the full use of his leg. He sighed, rested his hand on her shoulder and moved to comfort his distraught love when the sound of scuffling and gunfire erupted outside. He bolted from the room, his lack of full speed forgotten as he grasped the cane and quickly stepped outside.


“What’s going on here?” he demanded as a group of Galbadian soldiers shoved their way past a pack of pitchfork-wielding farmers. “Who’s shooting?”


A soldier dressed in red, obviously a captain, stepped from the back of the lines and cleared his throat. “Here ye here ye,” he announced grandly and smirked when the rest of his company laughed. “To all that reside in the good and fair township of Winhill. You are now under New Galbadian occupation and-“


“What’s the meaning of this?” Kyo and the group of farmers from earlier interrupted. “You can’t come here and do this! Winhill is a part of Esthar, not Galbadia!”


“It doesn’t matter now does it cripple,” the captain smirked before kicking Kyo’s cane from underneath him. Kyo crumpled to the ground with a sharp cry from his wife, who was quickly restrained by a farmer while another attempted to come to his aid. The captain quickly set his boot on Kyo’s chest, withdrew a pistol and aimed it in the farmer’s direction. “You just try it hick,” he growled as he unlocked the gun’s safety.


“You can’t do this!” Kyo croaked as the captain’s boot shifted from his chest to hold at his throat. “You can’t just come in and take over!!! We’ll fight you!”

The captain’s grin only widened, the dark sadistic smirk promised pain and suffering mirrored his master and president. “If you want to fight then go ahead,” he growled as fangs slowly grew where normal canines once were.


“I seriously hope you do.”


III


Shippou gazed out the back seat window, his mind distant and troubled as he watched the sun rise to greet the day. This was the second and final leg of their journey with the headmaster, with Sango in the passenger seat beside the headmaster, Inuyasha and Miroku in the seat behind them and Shippou in the very last seat in the back. Shippou remained quiet for most of the trip, with his thoughts centered on the strange feelings coming from his right arm.


‘I hope she’s alright,’ he thought to himself as he remembered the pain that used to be among her feelings. The pain had subsided gradually with time, though he still caught bouts of it along with her anger. ‘No doubt at being injured,’ Shippou quipped with a sad smile. ‘She’s never been the one to do helpless.’


“Hey Ship.”


Shippou tore his gaze away from the beautiful pastel streets of Esthar to Inuyasha, who just barely peeked over the back of his seat. “Yeah, what?” Shippou whispered softly, mindful of the others as they slept around them. “What do you want now?”


“Hey, I just wanted to say that I’m...um...well...” Inuyasha cursed and scratched an ear, then said, “I’m sorry ok. About not sticking up for you about Kagome.”


“It’s cool,” Shippou brushed aside with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I know the others don’t exactly believe me and for me to expect them to would be way too much.”


“Yeah well, I just wanted to say sorry,” Inuyasha replied. “And I wanted you to know that I know they’re alive too.”


“For real?” Shippou questioned, his brows furrowed softly in confusion. “How?”


“Well um...you see...” Inuyasha proceeded to tell Shippou about Sesshoumaru’s mark and what would happen should anything befall the missing Endo captain. Shippou drank the information in quietly, the furrow in his brow deepening while Inuyasha continued to explain.


“So let me get this straight,” Shippou whispered quietly as he leaned toward Inuyasha. “You’re telling me that you’ve known they were alive the entire time? But you never said anything?”

“I wanted to but I couldn’t be sure,” Inuyasha defended himself. “Besides, I didn’t think it-“ His eyes widened in surprise when Shippou vaulted over the seat, his sense only returning to him when the kitsune’s fingers wrapped themselves around his throat.


“You didn’t tell anyone,” Shippou growled furiously as he choked the life from his hanyou friend. “You let them think I was crazy and for what? Just because you couldn’t be sure?”


Their struggles woke the other occupants, with Sango’s gasp of surprise coming first before Miroku’s shout for him to stop. Miroku grasped Shippou’s mid section and tugged furiously. Sango quickly vacated her seat in the front to help him and soon the two humans managed to get the much stronger youkai away from Inuyasha.


“Jeez you stupid bastard!” Inuyasha croaked as Shippou struggled to get free without hurting Miroku and Sango. “You could have killed me you know!”


“I was trying to kill you you fucking coward!” Shippou snarled back. “You let everyone think I was nuts when all you had to do was tell us what Sesshoumaru’s mark meant!!!”


“What’s going on?” Miroku demanded angrily. “I was having a particularly good dream-“


“Most likely about something perverse,” Sango quipped to herself.


“And I don’t appreciate waking up to a fight!” Miroku finished. “Now what’s going on? Inuyasha, what’s Shippou talking about?”


“Oh, so it’s automatically my fault is it?” Inuyasha snapped bitterly. “Hey, I was the one that was attacked, remember?”


“It is entirely too early for this...”


Everyone froze, then turned to the front and watched with some alarm as the headmaster’s light hair shifted from behind the driver’s seat. “Shippou you should calm down, unless you plan on choking me too.”


“Huh?” Sango replied in confusion while Shippou gawked in shock. “What’s going on? What’s everybody talking about?”



“We’re talking about the survival of your previous teammates,” Squall answered. He sniffed and shifted again, this time with the shock of brown hair disappearing all together before he turned around and propped himself up against the steering wheel. “This is what I love about Esthar technology,” he said to himself as the scenery continued to streak past. “Auto-pilot is such a wonderful thing.”

“Headmaster?” Sango respectfully interrupted. “What are you talking about? I thought you said Kagome and Sesshoumaru were dead.”


“I never said they were dead,” Squall corrected her. “I said we couldn’t find them, not that they were dead. Inuyasha’s enough proof of Sesshoumaru’s existence at least, and I have no doubt that Kagome is alive as well.”


“They are?! Oh my God that’s great!” Sango exclaimed happily. “Shippou, you were right!”


“I know,” Shippou growled gravely. “But how long have you known Headmaster?”


“I’ve known for about a month now,” Squall answered simply. He wasn’t exactly surprised by the disbelieving looks they gave him, nor their outrage at not being told beforehand.


“Is that what this mission is about?” Inuyasha asked. “Are we finally going to get to find them?”


“Not possible.”


“And why not?” Shippou demanded. “Are we just going to let them sit out there and rot when we can do something?”


“We’re not going to find them because they can’t be found!” Squall stopped, cleared his throat and collected his temper. “Forgive me. I know you all are frustrated. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to waste any more manpower when we’ve exhausted all attempts.”


“Why don’t you try telling us what happened?” Shippou countered with a barely suppressed growl. “And I’m Kagome’s family remember? So you can share it with us.”


“Fine,” Squall agreed. “I’m planning to send their parents edited copies of the report anyway.”


“We don’t want an ‘edited copy’,” Shippou assured him after shaking off Miroku’s hands. “We want to know what happened.”


“And I’ll tell you but you must keep calm,” Squall replied sternly. “Getting angry isn’t going to solve anything.”


“Fine,” Shippou nodded stiffly, though inside he was anything but calm and collected. He felt like a fool for his insisting, remembering not only the pity in the others eyes but the feelings of helplessness that constantly shrouded him. “Please, go on Headmaster.”

“Thank you.” Squall paused a moment to think and collect his thoughts before continuing. “A team was selected and sent out by the Garden two days after the crash. We accompanied the Esthar technicians in charge of their airship program and set out to retrieve what information we could that would help with the search. We found the Ragnork 40 kilometers outside of Galbadia’s southern coast, well aware from Galbadia’s airspace. We towed the Ragnork to Fisherman’s Horizon where the technicians proceeded to drain the ship and look for damage.


“The ship’s hull was riddled with holes, both from gunfire and from rockets that apparently were the results of a full on attack,” Squall said and paused to check the other’s reaction. Other than Sango’s pale face and Shippou’s shaking hands, there was no sign that the little group would fall apart. Miroku reached over and grasped Sango’s hand in reassurance, patted Shippou’s shoulder and urged Squall to continue.


“The ship’s cargo bay and loading dock was completely destroyed, apparently from some kind of massive explosion. The catwalk to the Air Room was still intact but the one to the cargo bay was lost as well. The control room was pretty much intact except for what looked to have been a small fire and some broken glass but the passenger deck was completely unharmed. There we found they’re luggage and belongings but no-“


“Excuse me?” Sango interrupted suddenly. “But I’m wondering....”


“Yes?”


“Did you find a train case?”


“A what?” Inuyasha exclaimed. “What do you want to know that for?”


“Don’t you remember Kagome’s train case?” Sango asked as Shippou’s face lit up. “You know, it’s only so big and it’s a powder blue with that cross emblem that’s on the back of her coat? That one. You know she never leaves anywhere without it.”


“She never went anywhere without her com phone either,” Miroku replied softly. “So we can’t be sure-“


“I don’t remember a blue train case in the recovery report,” Squall admitted. “I do remember a pink phone-like device-“


“Kagome’s com phone,” Shippou said with a nod.


“But I don’t remember a train case. Would it have been inside one of the black duffle bags?”


“No,” Sango shook her head. “It was waaaayyyy too big for that. She kept her ammo, extra potions and ammo packs in it.”

“You know what that means right?” Shippou said suddenly. “It means she’s alive! It has too! You know Kagome and her ammo packs!”


“There was also some structural damage done to the door to the Air Room catwalk,” Squall said next. He smiled at Shippou’s excitement, this being the first time in a month since the kit truly smiled. “A large hole was melted though the door with a corrosive substance.”


“Sesshoumaru’s poison,” Inuyasha whispered, then looked up with a smile of his own. “Then they’re alive?”


“It’s what we believe,” Squall nodded. “We found no trace of their remains and both gunblades are missing as well.”


“So they’re alive!” Shippou exclaimed happily, his tail reappearing from it’s cloaking spell to wag happily beside him. “So when are they coming home?”


The mood sobered when Squall looked away, the indecision in his eyes and scent enough to calm the excited atmosphere. “We don’t exactly know,” Squall replied after a moment’s silence. “We found their landing point on Northern Centra. There were large amounts of old and dried blood, Sesshoumaru’s from what the trackers said, and extreme amounts of youki.”


“Then he transformed?” Shippou asked and Squall nodded again. “We believe that he may have been injured during the escape or sometime after it-“


“But Kagome was injured too!” Shippou interjected. “She’s still recovering, I think!”


“You’re the only one who knows that,” Squall told him. “As far as the trackers were concerned she was slow when they decided to leave, but she was able to move about on her own.”


‘Only because Kagome’s stubborn as hell,’ Shippou thought with a wry smile. ‘That’s the Kagome I remember.’


“The trackers followed their trail for a couple of days then it ended just 8 kilometers away of their mission target.” Squall sighed at their confused glances. “We...can’t find them.”


“So what are you going to do?” Shippou asked. “When are you going to send the next team out?”


“I’m not going to send another team,” Squall told him, his hand raised in an attempt to stall Shippou’s anger. “The Garden has decided that we can’t afford to send another team with Deling and his soldiers still plaguing the world. The last free village, Winhill, was taken yesterday.”


“Was anyone hurt?” Miroku asked. He sighed in relief and sank against the seat when the headmaster shook his head.


“As you all can see, we’ve had to divert all of our attention toward defense and, unfortunately, that makes Kagome and Sesshoumaru a secondary problem. We can only hope that they’re someplace safe.”


“Then what are we doing here?” Sango asked. “Esthar hasn’t received any reports about Galbadian solders.”


“No, not yet but we do believe that now that Deling has control of the rest of the world, his next targets will be Fisherman’s Horizon and Esthar. You’re going to be stationed in Esthar-“


“For real?!” Inuyasha exclaimed then blushed when everyone turned to him. “Oh. Um...sorry.”


“Well,” Squall said before clearing his throat. “As I was saying, you’re going to be stationed on the left side of Esthar. We’re going to the Airstation now to pick up your new captain.”


“Hey, isn’t that the station now?” Sango asked as they veered a sharp left and approached a large blue hanger. Squall nodded and proceeded to turn off the auto-pilot, any questions as to who their new captain would be either forgotten or held for another time as Headmaster Leonheart parked near the front of the entranceway and stepped outside.


“Now where is he?” he muttered to himself as he watched the crowd walk past him. Shippou and the others got out as well, with Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku moving to stand beside the headmaster while Shippou sat on the hood of the car.


‘I guess the headmaster’s right,’ he said to himself while they continued to wait. ‘I mean, we don’t know where Kagome is, so to send a bunch of people after her without knowing exactly would be kinda pointless. But if he would only let me go, I could find her! I just know I can!’


“Hey Shippou?”


Shippou looked up, his thoughts swirling in his emerald green eyes as Sango looked on in concern. “You ok?”


“Yeah,” Shippou nodded before rubbing his chin. “I’m fine. Sorry, I’m just-“


“I understand,” Sango told him with a quiet smile. “And I know you’re frustrated. Believe me, no one wants to get out there and find Kagome more than I do, but-“


“The headmaster’s right,” Shippou finished for her and sighed. “Yeah, I know but it’s hard and I...miss her.”


“I miss her too,” Sango said as she reached out to hug him. Shippou hesitated, but soon hugged her back, his tail remaining limply at his side as he loosely embraced his long time friend. “Don’t worry,” Sango said next when she let him go. “Knowing Kagome, it’s Sesshoumaru we should be worried about.” They both heartily laughed at Sesshoumaru’s expense as they remembered how hyperactive their friend could be.


“Thanks Sango,” Shippou breathed as he wiped a tear from his eye. “I really needed th-“


“Oh no way!”


They turned just as Inuyasha was storming up the Airstation ramp, watching the hanyou as his fists curled at his sides and his ears stood straight at attention. “There’s no fucking way!” he shouted while ignoring the shocked and frightened faces of the others in the crowd. “What the fuck are you doing here?!”


“There’s only one person he talks to like that,” Sango said as Miroku ran up the ramp to calm Inuyasha down. “Man, this is gonna be rough.”


Kouga walked past Inuyasha, ignoring him completely as he readjusted his duffle bag and walked down the remainder of the ramp to the headmaster. “Good morning sir,” Kouga greeted with a salute. “Captain Bravaldi reporting for du-“


“Oh no WAY!!!” Inuyasha bellowed as he returned to the car. “Don’t tell me he’s our new captain!!!”


Squall nodded and frowned at Inuyasha’s angry growl. “You may not like it Private, but you’re assigned to Captain Bravaldi now so be sure to follow his orders. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He opened the trunk and pulled out a pair of duffle bags of his own. “I’m on my way to FH. Kouga, I’m leaving you in charge of them...um...isn’t there another with you?”


“Oh yeah, she’s coming,” Kouga answered before waving a nonchalant hand toward the Airstation. “She’s as slow as molasses but she’ll get here.”


“Good. Now I must be going. Be sure to advise the Garden staff to call me if any problems arise.”


“Alright Headmaster,” Sango called as she, Shippou and Miroku waved goodbye. “Be careful!” Sango sighed as they watched him go, the moments of peace that surrounded him quickly dissipating once he disappeared behind the beautiful glass doors. She jumped at an unexpected growl and turned around to find Inuyasha and Kouga already at each other’s throats.


“So Dog-breath,” Kouga began as he leaned against the side of the car. “Where’s your pops? I heard he’s been missing since this whole war started. Don’t tell me he’s hiding. Tisk, tisk, tisk.” Kouga shook his head pityingly and smirked. “I always knew you inu youkai were cowards.”

“Now just one second Kouga,” Miroku said before Inuyasha could think of a comeback. “From what we’ve heard, Galbadia isn’t the only youkai-run nation that Deling controls. Where is your father now that Trabia’s no longer his?”


“Eh, what do you know?” Kouga brushed off before Inuyasha laughed. “My pops is somewhere safe.”


“And so’s mine so just back off Wolf-Bait,” Inuyasha growled. Kouga answered with a growl of his own and quickly made to lunge and Inuyasha. A lightening bolt struck the ground between them before a blow could be passed and a voice interrupted them just as they were beginning to bark out insults.


“Kouga, why don’t you stop being an ass?” a feminine voice called out as the smoke from the thunderbolt cleared. Shippou saw through the dust just as a young female youkai approached them, an extremely cross look reflecting in her hazel brown eyes. Her mouth seemed set in an natural pout and her fangs, pointed ears and slight claws were the only hints of her species. She stood a good foot below his 5' 11" and her white SeeD uniform and her pigtails gave her an air of childlike innocence...


Until she caught him staring.


“Do you have an eye problem?” she quickly growled at him as she shoved him aside to reach the trunk. Shippou moved easily enough, though he found himself stunned at the level of hostility rolling from her in tangible waves.


“No,” he answered after a second’s silence. “I don’t. Why?”


“Well stop staring,” she snapped before wacking Kouga upside the head. “And you,” she said with one hand on her hip and the other finger viciously wagging in Kouga’s direction. “You stop starting trouble. We’re here to protect this city, not for you to get into brawls with everyone. What did Ayame tell you?”


“Eheh, it’s not even like that,” Kouga nervously chuckled as he rubbed the new sore spot on his head. “Um, this is Sotan Lucis, my second. She went with me when we searched Centra for Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Um...sorry we didn’t find them.”


“Don’t be,” Miroku replied. “We’ve come to understand that something may have happened that is preventing them from being found.”


“We can only hope that this war ends soon,” Sango said, her head lowered slightly as she struggled to blink back her tears. “That way we can try to find them ourselves.”


“Hey, I’m definitely going with you for that one,” Kouga vowed. “After all, Kagome is my woman.”


“Kagome is not your woman!” Inuyasha and Shippou venomously reminded him. They growled when Kouga ignored them and repeated themselves, only to have Kouga disagree.


“I claimed Kagome when she was 13,” Kouga boasted proudly. “So of course she’s my woman!”


“You can’t just claim her like some kind of watch!” Shippou argued back. “Kagome has to make her own decision and so far you’ve been-“


“Rejected!” Inuyasha interjected with an evil grin. “But that’s just like you wimp, to try to force a girl to mat-“


“Hey, can you guys shut up a second?” Sotan growled as she turned toward the Airstation ramp-way. “Do you hear that?” Everyone strained their ears, each searching for any sign of a disturbance when the glass doors slid open and dozens of passengers ran screaming from inside. “Hey!” Sotan called as the panicked crowd ran past her. “Hey, what’s going on?”


“It’s Galbadia!” one passenger stopped to shout as the others knocked her around. “They somehow managed to land at the Airstation and they’re coming this way!”


“Well people, that’s our sign,” Kouga said as he tightened the straps on his gloves and cracked his knuckles. “Let’s go to work.” Sango and Miroku quickly scrambled for their rifles and followed the others inside.


“OK, Sango and Miroku, you two stay here,” Kouga said as he pointed toward the entranceway doors. “If anyone from Galbadia tries to get through, you shoot them on sight.”


“Gotcha!” Sango said as she and Miroku took their places and loaded their weapons.


“The rest of you follow me and Sotan-“


“Yeah, I know,” the hazel-eyed youkai said as she un-strapped a pair of blue nunchaku from her back. They quickly jumped into the fray with Inuyasha the first to strike when he leapt over Kouga’s head to slice through the leg of a nearby Galbadian soldier.


Shippou jerked another soldier off the ground and smashed his fist into his nose. He felt almost sorry for the poor guy when he shrieked in pain but lost all humane thoughts when the soldier drew a pistol. Shippou hit him again, this time in the abdomen before ducking when a subtle whistle alerted him to trouble behind him.


He jumped up and growled just as the end of the weapon returned to Sotan, who merely shrugged and walloped the nearest soldier over the head when Shippou glared at her. Inuyasha’s loud cry was the next to follow and with it came a cry of “That makes 8 so far Kouga!”


“I’m on ten half-breed!” Kouga shouted after kicking though a soldier’s kneecap. “You’re such a slow-ass!”


“I’ll show you-“


“Guys!” Sango called from the back. “I think we might have a problem.”


Shippou turned around and flinched at the swarms of Galbadian troops swarming to get inside the Airstation, not trying to get out as the other suspected. Sango kicked one of the soldiers in Miroku’s direction then punched another in the jaw as Miroku smashed the butt of his rifle into the trooper’s chin.


“Shoot them!” Kouga hollered as he flipped his opponent over his head.


“We can’t!” Sango cried out when one of the soldier’s punched her in the stomach. She winced and stumbled back, her hand to her stomach as the troopers began to pour in faster. “There’s too many of them!” She grabbed the opposite end of her gun and swung it like a club, proceeding to clip up three soldiers. More soldiers tripped over the fallen soldiers but it wasn’t nearly enough to slow down the throngs struggling to get past them.


“Shit!” Kouga hissed. “Hey Sotan-“


“Already on it!” she hollered as she ran to him. “You guys get ready!”


“Inuyasha! You and the kit get over here now!”


Inuyasha growled, but quickly jogged over to Kouga and Sotan, leaving Shippou the last to arrive as another soldier attempted to pounce on him from behind. Shippou quickly countered with a Blizzara spell, watching only momentarily as a thin pillar of ice surrounded the surprised soldier before stopping in front of Kouga.


“What?” Inuyasha growled testily. “It was just getting good.”


“We’ve got to defend Sotan,” Kouga said before turning toward the enemy. “But you’ve got to move toward the other side of the Airstation when I say. Oh. Oh yeah! Hey Sango!”


“Yeah?”


“Grab the pervert and get over here!”


There was no time to wait for the last two members as the Galbadian soldiers attacked them, this time with a newfound vigor as the other soldiers that Sango and Miroku were trying to detain finally made their way into the station. Shippou quickly cast a Haste spell on himself, taking only a second to feel his adrenalin jump before casting Protect spells on the party.


“Thanks kit,” Kouga bothered to say before slicing his claws through the thick hide of a dragon soldier. “Check on Sotan.”


Shippou turned and found her with her hands in the air, her round face upturned and her eyes closed as a gigantic ball of crackling lightening formed above her. “Hey Kouga,” he hollered as the wind began to pick up around them. “What the hell is she doing?”


Kouga glanced over his shoulder and cursed, then quickly dropped his opponent and gave the order to retreat. “Ok let’s go!” he shouted.


“But what about Sotan?” Sango hollered when Kouga picked her up and gestured for Inuyasha to do the same for Miroku.


“Don’t worry about her. Let’s go!”


Shippou swiftly followed the older males but stopped when some inner sense told him to look back. He turned around and watched as a Galbadian soldier attempted to sneak up on Sotan from behind. He ran back without a second thought and snap kicked the soldier in the side, sending him skidding across the floor toward the rest of his company as Shippou came to a stop in front of her.


“I got this,” Sotan huffed when she finally opened her eyes. “You’d better get out of here.”


“You keep going,” Shippou hollered back. “I’ve got you covered.”


“Ok,” Sotan relented. “But it’s your funeral!”


Shippou lowered his head and began collecting his energy, his feet more than shoulder-length apart as his claws began to glow a fierce baby blue. The soldiers around them attempted their onslaught again and were instantly reflected by a burst of purple.


‘What the hell was that?’ Shippou wondered when his right arm began to glow the same purple as the line quickly circling them.


“Hey, you ready?” Sotan called out, effectively breaking him away from his thoughts. Shippou nodded and together they released their ki. Shippou’s rocketed away from him first, the baby blue flames of magic incinerating the troopers on contact. Sotan dropped her lightening ball next and between the two energies an enormous gray cloud blew up between the two youkai and the army surrounding them.


Shippou coughed dryly and waved his hand, both to clear the air so he could breathe and to see as he searched for any signs of danger. “Woah,” he finally whispered when the dust settled. The soldiers around them were completely gone, with little left of them but a few guns, a couple of boots and a discarded helmet.


“Damn.”


He turned to congratulate Sotan but stopped when she wavered on her feet. “I think I overdid it,” she whispered as her eyes rolled back. He knees gave way underneath her and she pitched forward into unconsciousness. Shippou reached out and caught her just as Kouga and the others returned, each in varying states of awe and amazement as Shippou scooped up his fallen comrade.


“Man,” Kouga said as he surveyed the damage. He whistled when a large piece of tile fell from the ceiling and jumped back before it could fall on his head. “You guys did some real damage. Not bad.”


Shippou accepted the compliment graciously but his attention was soon re-directed when Sotan shifted in his arms. He blushed when her head came to rest on his shoulder and her hand moved to rest on the other side, her nose slightly poking into the soft flesh at his neck. He quickly averted his eyes and turned to the destruction around them, completely unaware of Sango’s knowing look as she smiled at him before whopping a certain pervert upside the head for his wandering hands.


(End Chapter)


SF: Hey, check it out! Shippou’s got a new crush!


Shippou: But why does it have to be Sotan! I HATE that girl!


Sotan: Well it’s not like I like you either!


SF: Hey! You two better NOT get started! I swear, actors these days! As a matter of fact, it’s not you two but older versions of you two. So you can stop arguing.


Inu-chan: Go easy on them will ya? They’re just kids.


SF: (......) Um...Inu-chan? Did you just say that?


Inu-chan: Hell yeah! Stop bitching at them already!


>Zap!<


SF: (Inu-chan coughs up smoke) What have I told you about cursing in front of the kids?


Shippou: Um, Guardian-san?


SF: Yes dear?


Shippou: Um...when do you want to do the summary?


Sotan: I want to do one! Can I do one?!


SF: Maybe next week ok? I promised Shippou this week.


Sotan: Awww...ok then.


SF: Beautiful. OK Shippou. Give it to em.


Shippou: (transforming into fiction version of self) It’s a month after Kagome and Sesshoumaru were stranded in that strange place, and things are starting to go well for the two. They still have no idea where they are, nor how to get out but that seems like minor details compared to the luxury they’re exposed to now. But just because they’re stuck doesn’t mean they’re idle, with Sesshoumaru still working on a way out and Kagome learning something new from the simulation. Plus there’s the budding attraction between the two and a discovery that may just be their key to escaping.


Next chapter: Chapter Fourteen: Finding the Black Dragon


(Reviews!)



Fanfiction:


Crystal jade2, Ruby27, baka-onna2003, inupupluvr, inudemoness247, Duzzie, Dragon Rae, Choyan, LynLin, Inu Yokai, Larka the White Wolf, sessywuver, BlueMonkey89, sakurakitsune14, migele, and Aya-Rei: Thanks so much you guys! Another chapter's on the way!


Strawberrylover: Ah, brilliant question. If I answer that, that would rob ART of answering it himself in the next chapter. Oh well. You're guess was right though. His system had to be charged in order for him to operate his holographic controls.


Lady Banshee 999: Hey, no prob. I can't believe I forgot who asked. And that was just a couple of seconds before I typed out your review. I feel like a dope. lol. You know, you're not the only person to say that. My beta tells me that all the time. Am I truly so sneaky as you all seem to think....yeah. I am! = ) I thought about making the necklace pink, but I just didn't seem to fit. Besides, Juromaru's rosary is pink...I think. It's in the family with pink. Nope, Kagome nor ART removed the necklace. He saw it and wanted to hold it, though how a cybernetic creature would want to hold anything is a tiny glitch in the story's programing. Ow well. You're right again. Sesshou can't telepathically contact anyone who isn't within a certain distance, especially with his youki drained the way it is. It's gonna take some time to get it back to the way it was, so don't expect him to do any flipping and flying around anytime soon. Kagome's necklace is just a necklace....you don't believe that do you? lol. Well what can I tell you? If I said anything, it would take away from the surprise that's in...seven or so chapters. I promise it's worth the wait though! Inu and Kagome are just friends. They never did the blood thing that she and Shippou did. As you can see, that Blood Pact is starting to have some effects on our dear Shippou. Wonder if he knows....Kagome's going to explain her experience with needles too, and it's not as dramatic as you're thinking. I promise though, nothing about this story is predictable. At least I hope so. lol. Anyway, thanks for all the questions. I just love questions.


Blue Vampire: (blush) Well I'm glad you think I'm doing an alright job. I've read some really bad ones too, but there are so many good ones that you can't give up the hope. There's a new author called Rinseternalsoul that's really good, along with CiraArana and Zanirilla to name a few. Lol. I'll get right on Second Chance. As a matter of fact, I had a bit of writer's block for that story before something knocked it loose. {Can't remember what exactly, but I'm glad it's gone!} So I should be finished with that chapter in a few days.


-silentsyn-: (blush) Thanks for the creativity vote! I totally appreciate it! I do try after all, to give you something that you won't normally find...ok, I don't try but the Cheetoz do. What can I tell you? Inu and Kago are going to be buddy-buddy again, promise! I can't let those two stay mad at each other forever. That's just not right. As you can see, Shippou's met someone cute and ...well, maybe not foxy, but sure as hell feisty! There will be more action scenes with Kagome in the near future, along with Sango, Miroku, Kouga, Shippou and the rest of the gang. Kikyou even gets her own though it's more of a practice one.


Baybe-Dinez: Thanks so much for reviewing! Hey, I'm honored to be the first person you've reviewed in such a long time. I hope you still think I'm worth it once the story gets rolling. I tend to veer off the beaten pathway and it sometimes gets me into trouble. I've read lots of K/ S fics like that too. I totally hate it when that happens. You're always like 'WTF?' when it ends cause it's so disappointing. Well I hope not to disappoint you in the end. And I can't blame you for the monk love. There's something about his charm that's just ...well...ahem. I'd better stop before Sesshou gets jealous over there. (points to Sesshou, who's tied to a rocking chair with a horse bit in his mouth) Yeah, I've got a real sick sense of humor. Anything with pink hair or organ removal I'm all over. I'm not going to make Kikyou evil. As a matter of fact, I'm trying to talk my remaining muse out of tortuing her. That girl is so violent sometimes. Jeez.


flying jade: Man, you're the second one. I'm so flattered. Glad you like the story so much!


dark ruler: Hey, thanks for the advice! I told her that but I don't think it did any good. Oh well. ART knows about the antidote because ART knows Sesshoumaru's grandfather, who pretty much had the same acid attack and the same antidote.


AngelWing1138: Um, please don't do that. My brother would pay big bucks to see you do it, but I'm just not a believer in that kind of thing. Don't worry. I update worm-free!


ivei: Nope. That language is something the wonderful minds at SquareSoft (or SquareEnix, whichever) came up with for the FFX and FFX-2 series. This fic is becoming a real meld of those three FFs. Let me know if you want the link to the site where I get my translations from.


Thesta: Hey, no prob. You're close though. Yup, the GF that replaces Odin is Gilgamesh. He was my fave because he showed up a fat lot more than Odin {with his finicky tail} Oh, ahem, don't worry. Kagome wasn't experimented on. But I don't blame her for being scared. I hate needles too.


Diana Artemis Silvermoon: The relationship between Shippou and Kagome is purely a brother/ sister thing, though Shippou wouldn't mind if it were more. You know what? I'm going to go with your explanation on ART cause it sounds right. I know nothing about computers, so the ability to explain ART is beyond me. You're first description seems pretty right though, so that's what I'm going with. As for the necklace, why does everyone think there's something special about it? If I told you it was just a necklace would you believe me? No? Well I don't blame you. Um...Sesshou's saliva is actually from another story, though now I can't remember which one. Glad you liked it though. I thought it was funny too when I read it!


Helena: (blush) I've never been a goddess before. Just wait till I tell my cousin. That'll teach him, the prick. Oh {ahem} sorry about that. Ah, as for your questions. Let's see here: Oh, yup, that's exactly what Sesshou being a taiyoukai means though he's not one yet. What makes you think Kagome's parents found her? Not to be rude by answering a question with another question, but I just have to know. To ART, Kagome's necklace is nothing more than that. Shippou's got a huge crush on his longtime best friend, but that crush is going to subside as another comes along. Yup, Kagome's going to talk to her parents before the fics over. Hey, thanks for the questions! I just love questions!


NoLabel: Crap. I just knew I forgot something. Um, I meant Mug. Sorry. I get confused between games. I can't help it. Um...if you think ART is mean now, just wait until the coming chapters. Trust me, this program is one that's determined to get things done.


Yume no Zencho: Oh yeah! Sesshou and no shirt! Hey, I'm working on that. ART will explain that in the next chapter. There's a whole thing behind it that has to deal with the culture in ART's time. You're having trouble finding Esthar? Hey, I've got a great tip for you. Finding Esthar is simple if you keep going straight. Just go toward that salt lake when you leave the FH train tracks, then keep going straight again as you go further into it. You should come to a little intersection. Go to the left. If you're in the right place, an undead creature should pop up from some canyon and try to beat the snot out of you. Keep going straight again after you beat the mud off it and stop when you get to the next screen. A hexagon should flash in the middle of the screen. Just have Squall touch it and he'll climb up an invisible ladder. There's your way into Esthar! I know, it's crap they way they hid it. I thought that too the last eight times I tried to find it. I've never gotten that chochobo so I'm in the same boat as you. lol.


Dark Neko-chan: Hey, are you feeling better? I've been worried about you. I hope so. Anyway, Sesshou's inner beast is going to make more than one decision on Sesshou's part, that much I can promise! Oh, and >Zap!< (Inu-chan coughs up smoke) Thought I'd give you a little gift!


Skitzoflame: Ah-ah-ah. I'm not telling just yet. Don't worry. Kagome's going to tell you that in the next chapter.


Ashika: Oh no dear heart. Goodness, don't give a girl a heart-attack. No, there are 24 chapters in all, not 24 more to go. I don't think I could survive it. I am reading Lavender's story and I wanted to cry too. I was really unhappy about it but hey, I was right as rain when she updated! And of course I have reason for the secrecy! I tend to try and make my secrets juicy too, so the wait should be well worth it!


OOF: Kagome will tell Sesshoumaru about the needles in the next chapter, along with a few other things about herself.


Row: Nope. See, the ART that came from the library is the main ART, or the main hospitality hologram. The other ARTs (and there will be a lot of them) are branches of the same program. Think of them like ...I don't know...clones or something. Shippou can't exactly track her cause of Kagome's blood. Um...I don't know to be honest. Second Chance, Unexpected Allies and To Bear Witness won last year, so I think I'm just happy to be nominated. I think whichever you readers decide is good is the one I want to win.


ReginaLucifer: I know it. It's sick and sad the way Mom does me. (sniff) I didn't remember L saying that until you said something. lol. I wouldn't mind seeing him prance though. Oh! (slaps hand) Bad thoughts SF! BAD! Yeah, she's not exactly logical but she's afraid of them. I'll be honest: I'm that stupid too. lol. You know, I'm starting to think that Sesshou's going to be a real trip once they go back, don't you?


Jade Catseye: (blush) Thanks so much. I'm such a nerd when it comes to the game, so I couldn't help but combine it and my fave anime. Inuyasha's going to behave himself the next time he sees her, though I doubt that will go over well with Sesshou.



Wake-Robin: Can't tell you about Kagome and the needles just yet. Don't worry though cause that question and a few others will be answered in the next chapter.


Kitty: Don't worry. As you're reading this, I'm typing away at Second Chance.


ShindyNova: Don't worry. I love questions. The site I'm using is calle the Final Fantasy Insider (I think) and it has the best Al Bhed translations so far. No prob about the updating. I was pretty much twiddling my thumbs anyway. That and hiding from Mom. She was like some sort of deadly machine when I coughed. It was ridiculous.


aznchicki: You said it! I've beaten one puzzle, and that's because I have the stradgy guide. lol. I wish I could beat it for you, but I can't. I can give you a hint though. Rinoa has two Limit Breaks called Invincible Moon and Wishing Star that makes it well worth the effort to keep her alive.


LtSonya: lol. Glad you liked it. Hey, how many stories are out there like this one? lol.


Mediaminer:


Farren F., Aitu,ice_apparition17, and luciferangel: Thanks so much for reviewing. I promise another chapter’s on the way!