InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bravery Without Love ❯ Fortress ( Chapter 3 )

Fortress

Kagome could feel her sides aching from laughing so hard but she couldn't stop. The simple

irony behind what Sango had done was just hilarious. She had been longing to escape from

Naraku's castle but had never been able to find a way out. And her trusted maid had simply

walked her out of the castle. And now? Now she was free. Sango's delicate eyebrows raised up

in question. Finally, Kagome could feel her laughs dying down and she took deep wheezing

breaths.

"My lady, are you alright?" Sango asked.

"I'm *giggle* fine Sango. Just give me *giggle* a minute."

"What is so funny?"

"I've been longing to get out. Thank you Sango! Thank you so much for getting me out of

there."

"But-but....this was suppose to be a kidnapping."

"You can't kidnap the willing."

Sango gave a sigh and slipped on her shoes.

"I suppose not, my lady. The horses are waiting outside and we will ride to the rebel camp."

Kagome followed her and slipped on her shoes. Waiting outside were their two horses and a

grumpy looking man with strange silverish hair. He was leaning against another horse with

his arms crossed. He had fiery golden eyes that, at the moment, looked very annoyed. His

clothes were a bright red and were slightly dirty, as if he had fallen.

"Why did you untie her?"

"She wanted to be kidnapped."

He almost tripped from his position.

"She what?"

"Baka, you've got perfect hearing."

"Why does she want to be kidnapped? She is being taken away from her 'precious' fiance." he

said sarcastically.

"He's not precious." Kagome quietly responded.

"Why? You're getting married to him."

Sango hushed him up with a punch in the light cheek.

"For kami's sake, just shut up. You don't understand anything at all, thank goodness it's your

brother who's in charge."

The man's face turned as red as his clothes and he scowled ferociously.

"Who cares about that idiot, he's stupider than me."

"Ha, you just admitted that you're stupid."

His face changed into one of confusion. Kagome could feel laughter bubbling up inside at how

confused he looked. She instead grinned so as not to annoy him and mounted her horse.

Sango was already on and led the way down a carefully hidden path. Kagome could hear the

man getting on his horse and following behind.

"Who is he?" Kagome asked.

"Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's younger brother."

"Half!!! Half brother!" Inuyasha called out.

"Half brother." Sango muttered.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"He's the leader of the rebellion against Naraku. He was the one who ordered me to take the

job as a maid a few months ago. Then, on a certain date, I was to kidnap you."

"But...what are you going to do with me? I'm worth very little in Naraku's castle and I doubt

that he'll even pay for a ransom."

"Well, the thing is...I don't know why I was ordered to kidnap you. Sesshoumaru never told

me and I figured it might be dangerous information."

"But I'm worth nothing."

"I thought it was strange that you were to be kidnapped and not one of Naraku's henchmen. I

know Naraku thinks very little of you, even though you two are getting married."

"I asked once, but they threatened to kill me if I questioned Naraku's decision again."

"I guess that is something my lady will find out when we get to the camp. It's half a day's

journey there if we go at a steady trot."

"Sango, they won't hurt me, would they?"

Sango gave a regretful look.

"I do not know, my lady. All I know is that I was to kidnap you. But I will try my hardest to

prevent any harm from coming to you."

"Even at the risk of our rebellion?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome turned her head to him. He was serious and his lips were set in a grim line.

"You would risk everything we have worked for to protect the girl who might be the key to

crushing Naraku's power?"

Sango was silent, torn by her love for the rebellion and her loyalty to Kagome.

"Leave her alone." Kagome said.

"Stay out of this."

"No." Kagome said strongly. "You can't ask such questions like that and expect an immediate

answer."

"The answer should be simple enough." he shot back.

"You are asking her to choose between two things that she holds dear! Don't you realize

exactly how hard of a choice that is to a person?"

"No, and I don't care."

"You are so insensitive! I can't wait to see the day that you have to choose between two things

you love!"

"It won't ever happen so I guess I'll never know."

"Selfish, so selfish." she said.

"You should talk, you spoiled little princess."

"I'm NOT a princess."

"You're marrying Naraku."

"That doesn't automatically make me a princess, you ignorant fool. And you can't use the fact

that I'm marrying Naraku against me."

"Why not? It clearly shows that you're in league with him."

"Do you know how much I hate him?" she said in a strained voice. "He is the reason why I

couldn't be happy for two years. Why I'm scared to go to sleep because I might die in the

morning. Why I have not laughed or smiled for months. And you accuse me of being in

league with him? You have no idea, absolutly no idea."

Tears were running down her cheeks and her eyes almost glowed a blue-silver from her

strong emotions.

"Hey....why are you crying?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly.

"Inuyasha, go on ahead, we'll meet you at camp."

"You can't defend yourselves if there's an attack."

"Just be quiet, and leave." Sango hissed, her face promising a beating if he stayed. He

understood and took off in a gallop. Sango moved her horse closer and patted Kagome's back.

"He's an idiot and don't believe a word he says, my lady."

"I know. It's just, I can't believe he thinks I'm in league with Naraku!"

"He doesn't understand anything. Don't worry, you won't be seeing much of him, I'll make

sure of that."

Kagome wiped her tears with her fingers and sighed deeply.

"Wow....I haven't cried for ages."

"Let us hope you will have no reason to in the future."

"I hope too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was near sunset when they arrived at a massive and heavily guarded fortress at the top of a

tall mountain. It was the ideal place for a fortress. The steepness of the mountain would give a

great advantage to those within the fortress and it made looking out for enemy forces easier

as well. Kagome peered up at the impressive stone walls that towered high above her. The

thickness of the walls assured her that it would be a tough job to ever break them. All the

soldiers keeping lookout were attentive and very keen. Several saluted to Sango and Sango

waved back to them. A young priest came out of the main house with a bright smile on his

face. He had his hair tied back and was wearing a long flowing blue priest's garb. He held a

long staff in his hands that had rings intricatly woven into it. Sango got off her horse and ran

into the priest's arms. Others came out of the house as well and greeted Sango. Kagome sat on

her horse, feeling left out but she decided to make herself look busy by observing the inside

of the fortress. There were people everywhere, it was almost like a large town fitted into the

fort. Women were milling about in aprons and children were playing everywhere. The sheer

control and orderly command of such a large fortress made Kagome feel a speck of respect

for Sesshoumaru. An operation of this magnitude made Kagome wonder how many hours this

Sesshoumaru had put into starting such a rebellion. He was obviously rich, considuring that

all the people looked well fed and clothed. All the weapons were new and sharp and the

soldiers weren't the rough and unorganized men that roamed the countryside. They all look

like trained and skilled men. Why would a rich man want to start a rebellion?

"My lady, come, dinner is ready and you will be meeting our leader."

Kagome slid off the horse and the priest helped her get down. Then she felt a certain hand

rubbing her butt and she squeaked.

"Hentai! What in the world do you think you are doing?!!"

Sango didn't look surprised at all and just smacked the priest in the head.

"My lady, please meet my fiance, Miroku."

Kagome backed slowly away from the priest and behind Sango.

"A pleasure to meet you, my lady" he said, bowing low.

"Eh..pleased to meet you too."

"Then perhaps we can meet later in the moonlight?" he said hopefully, receiving another

smack in the head from Sango.

"Come, my lady, let me show you in. Miroku, you and I will have a talk later."

Sango led Kagome into the main house and through several corridors till she reached a large

wooden door. She pushed it open to reveal a large dining hall packed with people. It was a

tasteful room and there were long tables that sat up to forty people in just one. Nobody

noticed Sango and Kagome entering the room since they were too busy eating. Seated up

front, however, was a man who's eyes were on her the second she came in. At first she

thought it was Inuyasha because of his silver hair, but it was finer and more tamed. As she

walked closer she could see a swirl of emotions in his golden eyes. But the primary one was....

recognition? Sango bowed deeply before the man and moved aside for Kagome. Unsure of

what to do, she bowed as well. When she lifted her head up to meet his eyes she took a

hesitant step back. Recognition had been replaced with sad love and Kagome was caught by

his gaze.

*Ah yes, now, who is that man? and why does he want to start a rebellion against Naraku? take a big guess! and i decided, instead of using the ol' kagome falls in love with inuyasha, inuyasha loves kikyo, kagome falls in love with sesshoumaru, i'd go for something different. and i actually like what i have in mind for future chapters. so, as always, please review!