InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Two Armies ( Chapter 47 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 47: Two Armies

Kisho glanced at Kikyou grimly as they heard what Sesshoumaru said, then he moved to stand beside him.

"Are you sure, Sesshoumaru?" he asked.

"Kagome has said so - when her aura touched his, she could tell."

The samurai had stood up by then, hand hovering over his weapon. "You would take the word of a woman?" he growled out.

Sesshoumaru raised a hand that glowed green at the tips, anger over the insult clear in his eyes. "I take the word of my female as the kami's own truth, human. You will not speak to her or about her with anything less than respect - or you will lose your head."

The man's mouth snapped shut, his eyes widening as he took in the demon Lord's reddened gaze and glowing fingers. Without a word, he turned to go - but realized he was unable to move as a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Did you think we would just let you leave?" Kisho asked incredulously. "You are a fool if you did." Pulling the now sullen man along behind him, he and Sesshoumaru escorted him to Kagome, through an increasingly hostile group of people.

Kikyou followed, curious to see what Kagome and Sesshoumaru had planned - she didn't think Kagome would have him killed - there were better ways to use him.

She wasn't really surprised to hear the angry murmurings swelling through the meadow, all directed at the human male now being held in front of the tiny demi-goddess. Now that everyone here knew that they could trust each other, to find one that they couldn't trying to sneak in enraged them all.

Probably a good thing that all those here aren't going to get a chance to get their hands on him - there'd be bloody flesh rendered all over this clearing - and it wouldn't be just the demons participating in the slaughter.

Kagome stared for a few minutes at the man that they'd brought to face her, face still and eyes cold. Then she let her full aura unleash itself, and she glowed as she let the man realize just what was facing him.

With a frightened whimper, the man's legs collapsed under him, and, Sesshoumaru and Kisho letting go, he went immediately to his knees.

"I didn't know! Please, kami-sama, don't punish this unworthy one!" He started babbling, begging and pleading his innocence, insisting that he thought he was obeying the will of the kami by joining with holy monks in a war for human dominance.

She listened for a few moments, then interrupted his ranting.

"Be quiet!" she snapped. "Don't lie to me - you joined Ungai because you like to kill, and you hate demons. Those are the only reasons! You're like a vulture - you'll follow anyone just to feed off the carcasses they leave behind!"

Just then, Sango and Miroku pushed a protesting figure through the now tight ring around the those standing in the center, while those further out listened intently.

Miroku tapped his staff on the back of the shrinking male. "Here's your other spy, Kagome," he said cheerfully.

Sango tossed him onto the ground in front of Kagome, smirking as he joined his fellow spy on his knees - she caught the sideways glance they sent to each other. "He's been protesting his innocence the whole way here, Kagome - he sure was in a rush to proclaim it, too - even though we didn't say why his presence was required here."

Kagome folded her arms across her chest, and began tapping her fingers on her arm, looking thoughtful. Still glowing, aura still radiating unimaginable power, she turned her gaze on the new guy, and glowered.

"You both chose to follow the wrong master - the kami are not the ones he is serving. You think I don't see your little nasty glances to the demons here? What makes you so much better than they? You were all created by kami - and humans have no business trying to destroy that which the gods created!"

Kikyou chuckled inwardly as she heard the murmurs rising around her. The demons in the clearing were mightily enjoying Kagome telling those men off. She caught Miroku's eye, and grinned. He smiled back, a twinkle in his eye.

"She certainly has strong opinions, does she not?" he whispered, and Kikyou nodded. Her attention was drawn back as the two men began pleading for their lives, convinced she was going to kill them.

She flared her aura at the two, almost knocking them out.

"Oh, shut up! You two make me sick. I'm not going to kill you - it would be a waste of my time. No... I'm going to send you two failed spies back to Ungai later. Let him kill you for screwing up." Looking up at her demon Lord, she said, "Take them somewhere under guard and keep them from running off or overhearing anything. After we're done with this meeting, we can figure out a way to drop them off in his lap."

Kaede stepped forward at that, motioning one of the villagers forward. "Show them to an empty hut in the village and post guards inside, and out."

Kisho caught Sesshoumaru's gaze. "I'll escort the both of them - you stay here and start the talks. I'll be back in a few." Sesshoumaru nodded, and Kichiro grabbed the two whimpering thugs and pulled them up, then turned to follow the man out of the meadow.

With an irritated grumble, Kagome pulled her aura back in, and dimmed that annoying glow. Although, it would come in handy on those dark nights - I'll never be without light again, no matter what, she thought, with an internal laugh.

"Now... back to what we were doing." She sat down, and gestured to Sesshoumaru. "It's your party, dear."

He cast her a rather confused glance, and she laughed wryly. "It's a future saying - it means you need to get over here and take over so that you can do what you do best as a warrior."

Brow cocked, he eyed her uncertainly, but nodded and stepped forward, watching as everyone took their seats again.

He looked around the field at the various groups, and frowned. "I believe that the first problem we are going to encounter," he said, "with a group of fighters so diverse, is recognition of allies. We do not have the resources or the time to make uniforms to help with that."

Kagome spoke up. "Don't worry - I've got that covered. What I did, a few minutes ago? Anyone who was here for that will be able to tell the friendlies, their auras will just know. I don't want to waste time trying to explain it, just... don't worry about that."

Kaede chuckled. "Ye are most useful to have as an ally, child."

A rustle of laughter floated through the clearing, and Sesshoumaru nodded. "She is. Very well, then - I think that next, we need to take into account all the various groups here, and their particular fighting styles, and strengths."

With a nod, Kikyou glanced over at Kagome and Sango. "That sounds like a good idea... we definitely have a very diverse force here."

Kagome agreed, and with that began an introduction of the different groups of people and demons within their ranks.

It was a large force - so it took up a large chunk of the morning.

They had no inkling of the new information that their own little group of spies was bringing them...

---wWw---

The entire, desperately fast trip, had been made in almost total silence between the three people balanced on the giant feather of Nyoko's.

All three were absolutely terrified of the information that they carried - that they were facing the machinations of a god was no welcome news.

When they had learned of Sou'unga's involvement it had been bad enough... but Sosa no Wo? The storm god - the god of Chaos - Amaterasu's brother?

Could they even win? Did they stand even a chance?

And what of the consequences of failure?

Win or lose, Inuyasha and the others were uncomfortably aware that things were going to change.

They could only hope that it was for the better.

As they drew near the village, finally, Inuyasha locked on to Kikyou and Kagome's auras - he'd been around them for so long, he could feel them miles away, not to mention his bastard of a brother, and he directed Nyoko that way quietly.

Kagome was the first to notice them approaching from the rear, standing up and turning around to greet them, surprised. "Hey! We weren't expecting you guys back here... what's going on?" she asked, as Sesshoumaru broke off speaking and turned as well.

Nyoko glanced at Inuyasha, and Kanna, then gestured for the little girl to speak - after all, she'd been the one to find the information.

"We must speak with you and the Lady Kagome," Kanna said in her whispery voice. "It is imperative."

Sesshoumaru nodded, then turned to the group in the field. "We will take a break for now, and reconvene two hours after mid-day."

As groups and clumps of people and demons broke off, he turned back to Inuyasha and the others and gestured for them to follow as he led them to the well clearing.

It was an eerily silent group that made their way to the well, and once they arrived, Inuyasha said, "Kagome, put up a shield. We don't want anyone spying."

Brow rising into her bangs, Kagome did so, covering the area with a nice large shield to keep out any type of spy - visible or mental.

Once it was up, Kanna spoke.

"Sou'unga is only a smokescreen - he is not our true opponent. The one we truly face is Sosa no Wo."

Dead silence met her pronouncement, and then Kagome exploded. "I knew it! Amaterasu... you sneak!" she howled, practically dancing with agitation. "That's what this has all been about, hasn't it!?"

There was a shaft of light, and then the goddess herself stood there - Sesshoumaru and all the others bowed deeply, but Kagome just bowed her head - and then started ranting.

"Couldn't you take care of this in your realms? Why did you have to drag us into this? I mean, it's your brother that's on that 'I want to take over the heavens' kick again!"

Amaterasu laughed outright at her, enjoying the girl's temper. "My dear, if that were to happen - if he and I fought our own battle as you seem to wish, the world and everything in it would be destroyed. We are too powerful for reality to withstand a battle between he and I. That is why it has to be this way. He starts his little schemes, and then I choose my champions to meet them... there is no other way."

Kagome gritted her teeth, knowing the truth when she heard it, but still frustrated. "Well, that's all well and good," she said sarcastically, "but what the hell am I supposed to do? You might have stuck me with these semi-divine powers, but how am I supposed to deal with a true god?"

"You don't meet him head on." With a sigh, the goddess moved forward as the others in the clearing listened, rapt. "Have you figured out your divine attribute yet?" she asked, and Kagome shot a sarcastic look at her.

"You mean, I have an actual job? How nice that someone's telling me... now!"

Sesshoumaru winced at his intended's tone... one did not speak so to the gods.

Of course, she was also one of the gods... it occurred to him that mayhap he should also take care how he spoke to her - but then he dismissed that thought... she might be a goddess, but he was going to be her mate - and her alpha.

He reached a restraining hand out to her. "Be calm, little one. Listen to Amaterasu-kami - she would not be here for no reason."

The goddess nodded in the demon Lord's direction. "You truly are her match - you will temper her nicely, I think." Looking back at a fuming Kagome that still had a belligerent pout on her face, she said, "He's right. There's a reason I'm here, Kagome. Your divine aspect is Balance. You are the goddess of Balance. That is how you will defeat Sosa, and Sou'unga, and restore the balance to this world that Sosa and his wild schemes have disrupted."

She wrinkled her nose in astonishment. "Balance? Oh, I should have known. Couldn't give me something useful, no you had to stick me with some esoteric concept!" The group in the clearing watched, dumbfounded, as Kagome moved off, throwing her hands in the air and ranting at the world.

Amaterasu just laughed. "She is so entertaining! I could study her for a million years and still not figure her out... and that's what's going to get my pig-headed brother in the end," she snickered, "because he won't understand her, either."

The goddess was still chortling when she disappeared.

Nyoko stood, finally, from her bowed position, and laughed. "You know... I never thought that the Goddess would have such a sense of humor. I could really get along with her..." she trailed off, and Inuyasha shot her a nasty look.

"Yeah, I could just see that... glad it won't be happening - you're annoying enough all by yourself," he sniped sarcastically.

"Not to mention my miko," Sesshoumaru murmured, as he glanced in the direction she'd wandered in her rant.

"Yeah," Inuyasha answered sarcastically, "not to mention Kagome. Are you sure you really want to mate her - that's an awful long time to deal with the wench, ya know."

Nyoko narrowed her gaze on the dog-eared male, and muttered a few words under her breath, then flicked her fingers at him. When he jumped as his hair frizzed out like he'd been hit by lightening, she burst out laughing.

"Mind your manners, puppy, or I'll do it again." She frowned as something came to her when her eyes landed on the kotodama around his neck. Hmmm... I wonder... if I could get the spell to root into that necklace, I could shock him anytime he started getting out of hand.

She was pulled from her thoughts when a peal of laughter warned her that Kagome was back. When she turned, she caught Kagome's laughing gaze on her. "What you were just thinking about exists in the future - it's called a shock collar... and I think it's a great idea - it would keep the puppy," she giggled at the nickname as Inuyasha scowled at her, "in line, that's for sure."

Sesshoumaru sighed, and shook his head, then looked at Kanna. "Tell me - does Sou'unga know his place in this scheme?" he asked.

Kanna shook her head slowly. "He does not. He believes that this is his path to conquest - for himself, and no one else, since he is no longer trapped within that sword form."

"I see." The demon Lord looked away, his expression thoughtful as he ignored the sparring from Nyoko and Inuyasha.

Kagome noticed his expression, and her own turned serious as she moved away from the courting couple. "What is it, Sesshoumaru?" she asked, and he turned slightly to look at her.

"Sosa no Wo is apparently content to stay in the background for now. We will concentrate on Ungai and Sou'unga at this juncture - we will deal with the other once he shows his hand."

Kagome sighed, then nodded. "I guess that's all we can do, for now," she agreed reluctantly. "So... I think we should keep this to ourselves, don't you? No point in panicking everyone with something we can't change."

Sesshoumaru bowed his head in agreement. "There would be little point in disseminating this information for general consumption at this time."

Kagome laughed inwardly at his words. Always the long solemn words... no wonder you drive Inuyasha nuts - and Nyoko into wanting to pick on you.

Then she sobered.

Balance... funny how that word keeps coming up. But what am I supposed to do with it - or about it?

---wWw---

Amaterasu was still chuckling even as she reintegrated into the consciousness of Meimei, her amusement at Kagome not diminishing one bit, and thought back at her once over of the army that Sesshoumaru and Kagome had managed to bring together so far.

It was large, diverse, and capable - or it would be, once they'd worked out a plan on how to use all the elements within it to their best capabilities.

She had no doubts that Sesshoumaru would do so - he was, after all, a master tactician, and this was the battle he'd been born for - born to lead.

As for Kagome, well, the young woman was most entertaining, but she, also, had been born for a purpose - even if Amaterasu herself had only just figured it out.

Yes, even she, Amaterasu, hadn't known Kagome's fate - she'd been born outside fate's control.

That was why she as anshou - cipher.

None could read her destiny... not even Sosa.

And that was going to give them the upper hand in this little war...

On the other side, this army that Ungai had gathered was formidable as well - even if only because of its size, and the fact that a good majority of it wielded spiritual powers that the demon elements of Sesshoumaru's army couldn't combat too well.

The only thing that would even that out, is that many of the monks powers were weak, and they couldn't completely purify anything above a low-level demon.

Still, throw enough weaker monks together, and their powers would have a cumulative effect...

It was promising to be a battle for the ages...

She was quite, quite interested to see how the son of the Great Dog General handled this.

Yes... it was all very interesting.

---wWw---

A/N: And there's another chapter - not much happening here, but some things that needed to be brought up did come out, so it's all good. Next chapter we will get to see a bit of Sessmom and Kagura... and figure out just what they are up to.

Enjoy!

Amber