InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For Him ❯ Battle for Him ( Chapter 3 )

~*~3~*~

The group sat in the boys' room drinking tea when the door opened and Kimendenshin appeared, her eye narrowing as she took in the placement of the weapons. In her arms were several robes and the group looked at her cautiously.

"The ceremony is to take place to night at the apex of the moon to the setting. My astrologers tell me that it will take from midnight to dawn for the ceremony to be completed," she stated as she placed two robes on the bed, one a white robe with holy markings embroidered on it, the other a white robe with gold trim and various protective markings embroidered on it. "I have already placed the girls' robes in their room."

"Why are you getting them involved?" Inu Yasha demanded and Kimendenshin's eyebrow rose.

"The ceremony dictates that for the Inu youkai blood to be shared there must be a chant of human voices, if you think that there is any human here beyond Rin you are going to find yourself disappointed. We need humans, if you do not want to redeem your mother's promise that is fine by me, but I will claim it tonight," Kimendenshin's voice was quiet and disturbing as she looked at Inu Yasha and the hanyou sighed before nodding. "I will give you the scrolls with the chant on them before the ceremony, then I will leave to guard the fortress from the outside, the Inu Ancient will perform the ceremony. I would advise taking a nap now, you all will need your strength."

With that Kimendenshin was gone, her movements so similar to Sesshoumaru's that Inu Yasha felt disturbed.

"She's worried," Miroku stated and Inu Yasha nodded as he scented the air in the she-youkai's wake. There was a slight, almost unnoticeable trace of fear, not enough to determine if it was Kimendenshin's or a servant who happened to be near her, but it was there and slowly Inu Yasha nodded again.

"Yea," he muttered. "We better do as she says." The group prepared.

~*~*~

I sat in the garden sharpening my sword, I would be on guard outside of the walls of the fortress of the West until the ceremony was complete. My hand shook slightly as I ran a finger over the blade, my finger was slit open and I looked at the wound, it was dripping. I closed my mouth over the wound and licked till the blood stopped filling my mouth. I removed my finger to see the closed wound.

"You are nervous," a voice stated and I looked at the Ancient, my eyes lowering in respect.

"Yes, I have not been this nervous for quite some decades," I stated as I returned to sharpening the blade.

"Why would you worry now?" he asked and I looked at him with my good eye with a raised eyebrow.

"Before I was one of a pair, now I stand alone against the enemy of both," I sighed and the Ancient looked at me.

"So, you fear this challenge?" he asked and I shook my head, with a bark.

"Never, I fear for my Lord, if he knew that his enemies were nearby I would have to restrain him and therefore leave our protection to his soldiers," I stated as I looked at my reflection in my blade. "They are strong and great, but they are needed behind the wall in case I should fall."

"I can mask the scent beyond the wall, it will hide the scent from a weak lord, but they will be useless against a lord in his prime," he stated and I looked at him and nodded.

"Mask it," I stated as I stood up and sheathed my sword. "Will you need me for the ceremony?"

"You must be the one to open the blood ways, I will bind the brothers' hands," he stated and I nodded. Suddenly one of my riders returned and I looked at him, this was bad.

"Lady Kimendenshin! There is word of Naraku approaching with an army of lesser youkai!" he cried as he bowed at my feet and I snarled.

"How long till he reaches us?" I demanded and he looked up at me.

"Not long after the moon as passed its apex," he sighed and I let out a breath of relief.

"Place up the seals I prepared, they will slow him down, giving us more time. I will be outside the walls as soon as the ceremony has begun, all our forces must be inside the fortress before I exit," I stated as I got up. "Excuse me, Ancient, I must prepare for battle." He nodded and I looked up, the bottom of the sun was just above the horizon, on the far side of the horizon the moon was hovering a third of the way to its apex.

I quickly bathed again, cleaning myself in the soaps that left me scentless, sharpening my claws as I soaked my muscles in preparation of the ordeal I was about to embark on. I exited the water and was dried by my servants, they brushed my hair until it looked like the surface of a lake on the darkest night. I bid them leave and I stood there naked before the mirror. I pulled on my under-armor, covering my breasts and reinforcing my abdomen with fur-lined metal. Then I pulled on my under-robe, the white material as soft as silk, but as protective as fire-rat armor. I pulled on my loose pants, a gift from Lord Sesshoumaru after he stated my old ones were too blood soaked to be any use. I ran my fingers over the ties before tying a knot and bending down to pull on my boots, lacing the material around my ankles, tight but loose enough for movement. I pulled on the over robe, pulling and pushing it until it was where I wanted it in length and tying it shut. I ran my fingers over the neckline, adjusting it over my under-armor. Then I pulled on the spiked armor, similar to that worn by my Lord. I attached it, locking myself in its cold embrace. I took a nearby brush and with a flick of my wrist, my fox magic vanished and I pulled the hair away from my face. I pulled all of my hair up, at the top of my skull, making a ponytail to rival my half-brother's. I turned and gazed at myself in the mirror. My blue eyes shining with anticipation as I stared at my pale skin, enhanced by the dark and light blue designs that decorated my robe, the hem of the sleeves bore a similar design to my Lord, only mine was white where his was red. I ran a finger over my spiked armor before looking at my dark blue pants and then I finished my outfit by attaching my blade, another gift of my Lord, it had never been used, as well as attaching my Lord's Tokijinn to my belt. I stood tall and looked at my reflection before baring my teeth and unsheathing Tokijinn, my youkai swirling around the blade, forcing its own youkai to fight, trying to possess me. Within a minute the sword relented to me, of course, my Lord did not even have to touch the sword before it allowed him to weald it. I smirked, I was not my Lord, but I was his closest in equal. I moved to the main watchtower, ignoring the stares at my scars. I was no longer pretending to be the Lady of the Western Land, I was General Kimendenshin, second to Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, and the slayer of Xaing Tsu, and I was the only true protection of the Fortress of the Western Lands from Naraku.

~*~*~

Night had fallen and Shippo was sleeping in the girls room while Kimendenshin stood there looking at the group, looking over each of them, inspecting them.

"So, what's going to happen for sure?" Kagome asked and Kimendenshin knelt on the ground, the group followed her lead.

"I will cut my lords' hands, the Ancient will bind them together with sacred ropes after you begin the chants. Then I will light the healing herbs on my way to guard the fortress for the duration of the ceremony. You humans will chant from start to finish, if even one of you stops it will fail, Lord Sesshoumaru will die, and Inu Yasha will be weakened for the rest of his life," she said looking each of them in the eyes. "I will say this once. Do not stop chanting, no matter what, otherwise the results will be disastrous and more the likely fatal for not only my Lord Sesshoumaru, but young Lord Inu Yasha."

"Understood," Miroku stated and the group stood there in their ceremonial robes as Kimendenshin nodded.

"I'm going to take you to the dining chamber, there is a meal there waiting for you there, then we will begin the ceremony," Kimendenshin said as she opened the door to the hallway and headed out. The group quickly rushed to follow, she was quite a site in her armor with her scars exposed, from the way servants and guards were looking at her, they were not the only ones intimidated by her new look.

"Lady Kimendenshin, is that not Tokijinn at your waist?" Miroku asked and there was a flash of her eye as she looked at him, it looked smug.

"Yes, it is," she stated before opening another door to show a great feast set. "Eat quickly but please do not make yourselves sick, I do not have the time nor patience to gather another human." Inu Yasha growled as he glared at her, it was weird, in a way she looked like Sesshoumaru in that armor, only the coloring was wrong as were the markings. She stared out a nearby window, drinking some sake while the group ate their fill. Kagome noticed she drank with her left hand and kept the right one on Tokijinn's hilt, the blade seemed to calm her.

"General Kimendenshin, the ceremonial altars are ready, the Ancient says it is time," Jaken croaked as he glared at her. No one from the group missed the use of her military title instead of her manor title.

"Understood Jaken, I will retrieve our Lord, you will lead Inu Yasha and his friends to the altars," Kimendenshin stated as she handed Miroku, Kagome, and Sango scrolls. She started to leave but stopped and turned to face the small toad youkai. "And Jaken, if you whisper one insult or say one stupid thing that disturbs these guests of our Lord, or do anything that will put their auras into a disturbed state. I will see you hanged by your innards and strung over the main gate till not even the scavengers recognize your bones." With that the woman warrior was gone.

Jaken was a light green as he showed them the garden, it was arranged with three smaller altars where the scrolls could be placed with a middle altar where there were two pillows for kneeling. Around the entire area were bowls of spices and herbs. Standing beside the two pillows was a demon so old and ancient that Totosai looked like a youth compared to him.

"Ah, Young Lord Inu Yasha, a pleasure to finally meet you, your father was a favorite of mine, glad to see you favor him," the creature chuckled and Inu Yasha nodded his head respectfully, this had to be the ancient.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ancient, I have heard many great things about you," he said, almost scared to look the creature in the eyes. When he did, gentle silver eyes looked at his with compassion.

"Your brother does not know how fortunate he is to have a brother willing to do this for him, no matter of blood," the Ancient said as they waited.

Kimendenshin entered, in her arms was Sesshoumaru, he seemed to cling to her as if afraid of something. She leant her forehead against his and suddenly his eyes focused.

"Inu Yasha, do not mistake this moment of weakness as anything other than a momentary set back," he stated as Kimendenshin stood beside him. His eyes took in her face with a shocked expression.

"Kimen…denshin…what happened?" he demanded and the demoness simply smirked.

"Your hateful aunt," she stated. "It is time for the ceremony, my Lord." With that she took a knife from the Ancient and the humans began chanting.

~*~*~

I held my Lord's right hand and slit a line across the palm, repeating with his brother's left hand, holding the two together so the ancient could tie their wrists and hands together in that position. I repeated the process with the other hands before looking at the Ancient. He nodded and I bowed to them before quickly exiting the safety of the fortress. I watched the red gates close and I nodded to the archers, they were free to fire at will. I pulled out my sword, pressing the flat of the blade to my forehead before making the kanji for `protection' to my left. I took Tokijinn and placed the flat of its blade to my forehead before making the kanji for `victory' to my right. Once both swords were sheathed I placed a barrier up before me, in the direction that Naraku and his army were approaching.

I waited, watching the moon until the first howls emerged from the forest and a wave of weak youkai hit my barrier and perished under the poison that my barrier held. I watched in silence as wave after wave hit my barrier, soon more and more were included in each wave and I began to feel the strain. The final wave came and I stared at the cloud of various youkai they hit the barrier and I stiffened as I was forced to drop it. I watched as they began to attack, the archers killing many as they approached me and I began my attack with my poison whip, flying through them like a ball of light, leaving behind the tiny pieces of what were once youkai. I danced through the wave, slaying with my light before returning to my place before the door as they regrouped around a figure in a white baboon pelt.

"Ah, General Kimen, I'm surprised to see you here," a voice called out. I looked at the figure.

"Naraku, I am General Kimendenshin and you, you are uninvited, I request you leave before I am forced to remove your riff raff as well as your golem," I stated and the pelt chuckled before the youkai began another attack, this time I simply released a large cloud of poison from my claws, killing all that entered it. Naraku's puppet watched and nodded. Slowly from the forest emerged a group of lynx youkai, all skilled warriors, some of which I recognized as mercenaries.

"I think we will finally see the greatest General of Sesshoumaru's army," the puppet laughed and I unsheathed my sword, preparing to fight as I had never done before…alone.

~*~*~

"Don't think I'm doing this for you," Inu Yasha stated as he glared at his brother, the great inu youkai was panting heavily as their blood was passed through each other and his energy slowly began to return.

"I assume nothing, Inu Yasha," Sesshoumaru panted as he looked around. "Where is Kimen?" Inu Yasha felt strange as his brother's eyes clouded over, something about those golden eyes told him that Sesshoumaru was worried.

"She's guarding the fortress from the outside," Inu Yasha stated and Sesshoumaru shook his head.

"Father will be displeased, Kimen isn't suppose to leave the safety of the fortress, the wolves don't like her," Sesshoumaru muttered. Inu Yasha stared at his brother. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, an unguarded Sesshoumaru.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, why are you so worried about Kimen?" Inu Yasha tested, the youkai smiled a goofy smile.

"She is my best friend, she smells good, and she purrs for me," he laughed and Inu Yasha nearly jumped in shock of his brother's smiling face. "She always plays with me and she's smart." There was a soft look in Sesshoumaru's eyes. "I ripped that stupid human woman's dress and she said it was her so I wouldn't get in trouble. I told him the truth, but Kimen…she wouldn't refuse her lie."

"Sesshoumaru, what do you think about your brother?" Inu Yasha asked and there was a pause.

"I don't like him, father spends all his time with him, all he does is eat and defecate, plus Kimen plays with his ears," then Sesshoumaru actually pouted. "She never plays with my ears." Inu Yasha wanted to laugh. "He's not that bad, father says one day he might be really strong, if he is I'll make sure he can take care of himself." Inu Yasha's face fell at that. Was Sesshoumaru actually testing him all the time? Then there came a clarity to Sesshoumaru's eyes and Inu Yasha asked the first thing that came to his mind.

"Sesshoumaru, does Kimendenshin usually use Tokijinn?" he asked and Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he looked at his younger brother.

"Kimen took Tokijinn to guard the fortress?" Sesshoumaru hissed and for the first time in his life Inu Yasha heard fear in his brother's voice.

"Yea, she was in her full samurai armor, she had two swords, one was Tokijinn," Inu Yasha stated and Sesshoumaru raised his nose and began to sniff.

"She would not dare touch Tokijinn without good reason," Sesshoumaru hissed and Inu Yasha became nervous.

"Are you sure you didn't forget?" Inu Yasha asked and Sesshoumaru glared at him.

"I remember all my lucid moments, I never bid her leave to use Tokijinn, it would be below her to ask it of me when I was delusional. Kimen prefers to trick a quick mind, not con a halfwit," Sesshoumaru hissed. "There is a barrier up, I cannot yet smell beyond it."

~*~*~

I stood there, soaked in blood, glaring at my broken blade, I had loved that sword too. I glared at the puppet before unsheathing Tokijinn, allowing a blast of red light to destroy several lesser youkai that had appeared.

"Kimendenshin, you are very beautiful," Naraku stated and a small apparition appeared at his side, a girl no older than Rin with a mirror in her hands. "I could restore your beauty to you." With that I could see my face in the mirror was restored and I quickly pulled my eyes away from the mirror before whatever dark magic was occurring to effect me. I rushed at the girl, Tokijinn drawn before I caught a smell from her that told me to flit behind a larger youkai that was attacking me. It roared and suddenly collapsed, I watched its aura enter the mirror and I quickly began to dance over the field, using Naraku's army to act as a shield against the soul sucking apparition.

"Kanna, go, she is too fast, Kagura, it is your turn," the puppet stated and I watched as the wind youkai landed, her eyes bored and her expression blank.

"So, you are the substitute Lady of the Western Lands?" she asked and I tilted my head in affirmation.

"That is one of my titles at the moment," I stated and I looked at the wind controller. "You are part of him. I pity your plight." I bowed my head to her and she nodded before unfurling her fan, sending blades of light towards me. I held Tokijinn up and sped through the attacks, using a blast of red light to send the witch to dance.

We fought, a thrust here, a dodge there, a block, a strike, a snarl as I was grazed, a slight smirk as I struck home, and back and forth across the field before my childhood home.

"Why do you fight for him?" she demanded and I looked at her.

"Until your heart is returned, you will never understand," I retorted. Kagura and I continued as the sky began to lighten, soon my Lord would be restored.