InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Consciousness ❯ Moving Forward ( Chapter 17 )

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

Moving Forward


Kagome looked over at Sango and Miroku. She knew that they were putting off their own wedding until things settled down. She and Inuyasha had tried to talk to them about it, had encouraged them to look at the future and not wait until this quest was over. Sango seemed to understand their need not to wait and was supportive of their decision.

“Well, what do you think? Can we be ready by the end of the week?” Kagome asked

“Have you and Inuyasha decided where you want to be married yet, Kagome?” Miroku asked

That was the crux of the problem, Kagome wanted to go to the well and be married in the village. Inuyasha had thought it would be alright, until Sesshomaru exploded and demanded they stay here and marry. That is where Inuyasha was right now, arguing with Sesshomaru. Their voices could be heard drifting out of the library. No matter how thick the doors were, their voices carried past it.

Kagome sighed, “I really want to go to my time, just for a day and then get married in the village. Sesshomaru unfortunately doesn’t agree.”

Sango nodded, she understood Kagome’s need to go home. If the prophecy held any valid information, she may not ever go home again.

“Kagome? If you go home, are you going to tell your mother?” Miroku asked

“Yes, I want to tell my mother and I want my grandfather to bless us.” Kagome sighed, she just hoped her grandfather could do this without throwing any ofudas at Inuyasha.

Sango looked at Kagome, “Well, I think getting married in the village is a great idea. Kaede would be very sad to miss your wedding.”

All three of them jumped as the door to the study was flung wide and banged against the wall. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha stood side by side, both growling.

“JAKEN!” Sesshomaru bellowed. “NOW!”

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and their friends. “Pack, we leave within the hour. Where is that damned kit, Kagome?”

Kagome blanched at the tone Inuyasha used. It was more of a snarl than anything.

Jaken came stumbling in at his master’s bellow. Rin and Shippo hot on his heels.

Shippo, seeing Kagome and Inuyasha launched himself toward them. He began rambling about the gardens and the game he and Rin were playing when they heard Sesshomaru. Peeking a look up, he realized that Inuyasha was glaring, at no one in particular.

“Inuyasha?” Shippo asked.

“Go to your room and get ready to leave. We leave within an hour.” Inuyasha could hear Sesshomaru giving the same orders behind him. Telling Jaken to get Ah-Un ready to travel and that Rin needed to be ready to go within the hour as well.

Kirara followed at a slower pace. She hopped up on Sango’s shoulder and blinked at her, giving a soft meow. Sango reached over and scratched Kirara’s head. Whispering softly to her, Sango asked if she would be ready for a long trip. Kirara meowed at her.

“Well?” Inuyasha demanded, looking at the group. At which everyone began to head in the direction of their rooms.

Just as Kagome was getting ready to follow Inuyasha to their room, Sesshomaru stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. Kagome stopped and looked at him.

“Yes, Sesshomaru?”

“I have relented against my better judgment. We will be traveling quickly and you will be escorted by Kagura and members of my guard as well.” Sesshomaru growled low.

“Thank you, dear brother.” Kagome answered cheekily. She had been needling him for the last two days, since she had agreed to marry Inuyasha. Sesshomaru would be her brother in law by the end of the week.

Sesshomaru growled at her and lightly barred his fangs. It had become routine between the two. Mutual respect continued to grow between the pair. It was as close to a joke as anyone had ever seen Sesshomaru participate in. It had begun when she chastised him for threatening to rip her throat out and had explained that she was going to be his sister and he couldn’t do that again.

“Well?” he looked at her, “are you going to get ready to leave?”

“Oh? Am I free to leave?” she giggled as she headed toward the door.

“Wear the fire rat” Sesshomaru growled at her.

*****

Kagome was settled against Inuyasha’s back as they traveled east. The collective group was moving at an incredible pace. The children were perched on Ah-Un with Jaken, Sango and Miroku were astride Kirara, Sesshomaru and the group of soldiers were traversing the forest floor at a mind bending speed. Kagura maintained an active lookout from above, floating on her feather.

Inuyasha hitched Kagome higher as he leapt from tree top to tree top. He was pushing hard, they were hoping to travel through the night and arrive at the village early the next morning. He could feel her breathing in the soft slow rhythm that told him she was asleep.

Sesshomaru made his way up toward the tops of the trees, sidling along his brother.

“She is asleep?” he asked, somewhat stunned

“Yeah, she always sleeps when I carry her” Inuyasha snorted

“Amazing, you have the grace of Totosai’s bull and she sleeps through that?” Sesshomaru sneered

Inuyasha growled at his brother and picked up his pace a fraction. Putting distance between the two. Sesshomaru snickered at his brother. Raising above the tree tops and moving toward the monk and slayer.

“You two are traveling well? Is the fire cat able to keep going?” Sesshomaru asked.

Sango looked over at him, admiration in her eyes. He was with out a doubt, a good Lord, his need to watch after Kagome, his ability to travel with his followers and act civilized. Sango was once again stunned by the difference in him when he was fulfilling his duty, rather than attempting to kill his brother.

Sango leaned over and whispered in Kirara’s ear, Kirara roared an answer at Sesshomaru. What ever she shared with him, he seemed content with and moved on toward Ah-Un.

As he drew along Ah-Un, he could see that the children were sleeping well, sprawled across the back of the great beast, he flew steady and strong, barely making a ripple with his powerful strokes. The children seemed undaunted sleeping so high in the air. Jaken sat behind them, awake and alert. Jaken understood his life forfeit if anything happened to the children.

Sesshomaru moved alongside the dragon for a while, looking at Rin. She was fearless and undaunted by the demons that surrounded her. Much like Kagome, she accepted what ever came along and never seemed to blanch at the atrocities she sometimes saw.

Sighing, he moved back toward the ground, he caught Kagura’s eye as she smiled at him and gave him a signal of her ok. Kanna was on the feather behind her. Kagura was rapidly becoming a member of his elite. Amazingly enough, both sisters had worked their way into his house and his circle of elite. Kanna with her ability to decipher and comprehend was priceless. From what Kagome said about the future, she would become an invaluable asset as time went by. Kagura, well, Kagura was an excellent addition to his warriors and she had began to work her way into his consciousness. He was beginning to see something aside from the warrior.

Growling, he heard one of his soldiers let out a low warning growl. Those with the fine tuned hearing of youkai heard it. Moving toward the sound, he could hear the others around him respond to the growl. As they broke the clearing, Sesshomaru was just ahead of his troops, flanked by his soldiers, forming an imposing line. He had heard Inuyasha drop back, could hear the fire cat roar as they circled back toward Inuyasha and Kagome. He had been very detailed in his expectations, should they come across trouble.

Anticipation that was singing through his veins failed fast as he was confronted by a group of wolves. His desire to slaughter the wolves had been tempered some time ago. He knew the two that lead this group of wolves. Letting out a sharp bark, Sesshomaru resumed travel. The band of wolves turned and followed the group of travelers. Soon Sesshomaru could hear the barks and whines that told him their leader was on his way. Sesshomaru refused to break stride, sneering, let them catch up.

Soon the pair that led the wolves were running along side Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru spared barely a glance at them. Evidently the wolf had yet to catch scent or sight of Inuyasha and Kagome. He knew from the vantage point Inuyasha was traversing, he could see the two wolves.

Koga looked at Sesshomaru and his entourage of followers. He knew they were headed somewhere quickly, as they never once broke stride.

“Where is the emergency?” Koga asked

“What brings you here wolf” Sesshomaru sneered.

“We are looking for some information.” He countered, Ayame was keeping stride with the pair.

Ayame looked at Sesshomaru, more refined than her mate. “Lord Sesshomaru, we are seeking information on a creature slaughtering demons, we have heard that you may have some information on an ancient prophecy about this.”

Sesshomaru looked at her, she was in her own way his equal. In the days of long ago, her grandfather and his were allies in tamping down uprising by the lower demons. Their grandfathers had long ago built the social structure that all demons operated under, today. He would never understand how she could have taken the loud mouthed Koga as a mate.

“Ayame, I have your information. You are welcome to travel with us, when we stop, I will share what I can with you.” Sesshomaru replied.

They traveled in silence for some time. Ayame, could not tamp down the curiosity that welled inside her. She knew the path they traveled and the formation, she knew that this was the first line of defense. Scenting the air, she could smell their own wolves following in distance behind, following the same path that Sesshomaru’s warriors traveled. If one didn’t know better, they were going into battle, or protecting something of such great importance, that only the Lord himself felt confident he could protect it.

Looking up at him again, she moved closer, Koga had moved away, toward some of the soldiers, she knew he hated being that close to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru had a reputation of being unpredictable.

“Lord Sesshomaru?” she lowered her voice so that others could not hear her.

“Yes Ayame?” he looked at her. Few were to ever be his equal, he allowed her more freedom than most.

“Are we going to battle?” she asked

“Not intentionally” he replied.

“Then what are you protecting?” she asked. Hoping her impertinent nature wouldn’t cost her.

Sesshomaru snickered. He knew from the moment they came across the pair, she wouldn’t let it rest until they stopped. Ayame was trained in the old ways, as he was. She recognized that the Lord of the West was leading his troops, prepared to die to protect something, somewhere behind them.

“Your wolves know. They have closed ranks and moved in to form an additional flank behind it.”

Ayame’s eyes shot wide. Her wolves would not protect something unknown without her or Koga’s direct order. If their wolves knew to protect it, it could only be Kagome.

She looked at him with her eyes huge. “She’s the one?” Ayame gasped softly.

“Yes” was the only answer.

“Where are we going?”

“The village in Inuyasha’s forest. The one where the old Miko lives.”

“Ah, yes, Kaede.” Ayame moved out arms distance from Sesshomaru. “My Lord?” she queried.

“Yes Ayame, you may go check on them.” he sighed. “make sure that baka mate of yours stays up here. We don’t have time to stop while he and Inuyasha posture.”

Ayame moved off and fell back, waiting for the flood of movement to overtake her. She caught the glimpse of solitary red and silver.

Moving swiftly to the tree tops, she knew Koga wouldn’t follow, he moved much faster on the ground than in the tree tops. In that way, she and Inuyasha were similar. They both moved quickly on the tops of the trees as if they were weightless.

Inuyasha growled at her as she came near. She just growled back.

“Is Kagome asleep?” she asked in amazement. She never understood how the girl could sleep anywhere, as long as she was on his back.

“Yeah” he growled. Looking over at Ayame’s face, he knew she just wanted to see her friend. Ayame and Kagome had become fast hard friends. He hitched her higher on his back, turning his head so that he could whisper in her ear.

“Kagome, wake up, you have company.” he whispered.

Kagome stirred and shifted. “Where are we, Inuyasha?”

“About four or five hours from Kaede’s village. The sun will be up in another hour or two.” Inuyasha shifted her weight to make sure she didn’t fall asleep again.

“Hey, wench, you have company!” he growled.

Blinking in surprise, she looked around and spotted Ayame running next to Inuyasha.

“Oh Ayame!” she squealed. Inuyasha’s ears flattened against his head.

“MUST you do that?” he grumbled.

“Hi Kagome!” Ayame moved in closer. “What is going on?” she asked

“Oh! Your just in time!” Kagome beamed. “We are headed to Kaede’s village! Inuyasha and I are getting married!”

Ayame looked at Inuyasha “You’re going to make her your mate?”

“Yeah. Now stop yammering at me, I thought you were here to see Kagome.” He growled. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, traveling.

“Are you going to come to the village?” Kagome asked hopefully.

Ayame laughed. “We were seeking Lord Sesshomaru. Since he told us he wouldn’t talk until he stopped at his destination, I guess we are.”

“Oh? What’s wrong?” she asked.

Ayame bit her lip. It was fine to seek out help and knowledge of the prophecy, until she found out that what she was seeking was her friend.

“Ayame?” Kagome queried.

“I didn’t know it was you!” she blurted out.

“Ah, the prophecy” Kagome nodded, she knew instantly why her friend was so uncomfortable now.

“Are you having trouble in your lands too?” she asked

“Yes, we have lost a few of our tribe, some of our stronger leaders in the North. I was sent to find out what I could about this thing that hunts demons.” Ayame sighed.

“We came across an old seer in the north that said she had heard of a prophecy come true about the protection of our kind. She told us to seek the leader of the dogs.”

“Yeah, Sesshomaru has been a bear since he figured out the prophecy!” Kagome groaned.

“He is next to impossible to tolerate now!” Kagome blushed. “He is the reason the wedding plans, and wedding party are moving at lightening speed!”

“Ah, he wants you mated and under the control of the west quickly, huh?” Ayame asked. She knew how these things worked. Sesshomaru ruled the Western Lands and was revered among other leaders as the leader of all demons. While he and his brother never failed to battle bitterly, she knew that he still ruled the demon world and having someone as powerful as Kagome as a member of his clan, would prove invaluable if their kind was to survive.

“Yeah, something like that” Kagome sighed. She was getting restless, the grueling travel had worn thin after the sun had set. Her stomach rumbled and her nerves were on edge. Traveling with a group as large as they were and not being allowed to stop to rest and stretch and eat were taking it’s toll on her.

“Hey! Stop squirming back there!” Inuyasha growled.

“I’m uncomfortable! I’m tired and my legs are asleep!” she whimpered.

“Yeah and all you had to do was hang on.” he growled again.

“How much longer?” Kagome asked

“Kagome? Do you need to stop?” Ayame asked

“I want to stop!” she whimpered.

Ayame looked off to the east, the sun was cresting the horizon. She knew that they were within an hour or so of the village. “Can you hold on for another hour or so?” she asked.

“I’m hungry! But, yeah, I can hold on that long.” she sighed.

“Ok, I’ll be back!” Ayame took a leap and dropped toward the ground, never breaking stride, Kagome could see her land and move quickly back toward that front of the group.

Coming up on Koga, she reached into his bag, that was slung over his shoulder, she pulled a handful of things out of his bag and fell back again.

“HEY! Wench! What do you think you’re doing?” Koga growled at her.

Ayame just blew him a kiss and headed back to the tree tops.

Coming up along Inuyasha again, she handed two long strips of dried rabbit to Kagome.

Kagome’s eyes lit up as she began to munch on the dried meat. When she had finished, Ayame produced a thick ripe plum and handed it to her.

“Oh Ayame! You’re a life saver!” Kagome smiled and thanked her friend.

Inuyasha growled something unintelligible, it sounded faintly like thanks.

Ayame started asking Kagome about the upcoming wedding. Knowing full well that it would take her mind off the travel and her apparent discomfort. She couldn’t fathom why Sesshomaru would not let the girl stop to rest, but, if he felt she was in danger, she imagined he wouldn’t stop until he felt he could set up a secure perimeter.

Inuyasha sighed, grateful that Ayame was taking Kagome’s mind off the travel. They had pushed much harder than normal and he knew she would be stiff and tired when they stopped. He couldn’t remember the last time they had pushed this hard.

Ayame and Kagome continued to chatter about the wedding, mating, her impending trip home. He could see the smoke in the distance of the village fires. They would be there in less than an hour.

As they came closer to the village, Ayame dropped back to the ground, Inuyasha and Kagome moved closer to the front of the defensive line.

The collective group moved into a tighter formation, pulling in closer, Ah-Un and Kirara moved down closer to the tree tops, Kagura moved down and settled above the soldiers, floating softly on her feather. The wolves pulled in closer, forming a smaller semi-circle behind the group of travelers.

As the village came into sight, Inuyasha and his group headed down toward the ground. Moving toward Sesshomaru and the front line, Inuyasha took over the place next to Sesshomaru. Flanked by Kirara, Sango and Miroku. They moved into the clearing, just outside the village. Allowing Kagura and Ah-Un to land. The children quickly jumped down and headed toward the adults. Shippo perched on Inuyasha shoulder and Rin, following closely behind Sesshomaru.

Kaede was coming toward the clearing. The sheer vast amount of power she had felt heading their way, told her who was coming.

“Ah! Kagome child! How are you?” she asked as she broke into the clearing. Startled by the sheer number of youkai following the girl.

“Inuyasha, Lord Sesshomaru?” she looked at the two. “Is everything all right?”

Sesshomaru was the first to respond. “All is fine Kaede, we have some business to attend to.”

Kaede nodded her head toward him, he lowered his chin a fraction. “May we come into the village, old miko?”

“Of course!” Kaede began to lead the way back into the village. Fortunately, her home was on the edge and the number of youkai guards could set up camp at the edge of the village.

Kagome, now that she had feeling back in her lower limbs, bounced up next to Kaede, with Sango and Ayame in tow.

“Kaede!” she enthused. “We are getting married! I want to get married in the village! Is that ok?” Kagome asked.

Kaede chuckled. She knew that this time was coming. “Of course my dear child, of course”



Disclaimer time:
I don’t own Inuyasha, it’s characters or it’s story line.
That sole joy belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
I’ll let you know who and what I own as we go!