InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ New Life ❯ Chapter 20 ( Chapter 20 )

Year: 1535
Month: April

On the final day of their stay, Chi was getting frustrated. She was tired. Controlling Kagome's body was very tiring on her. Once they left, she would curl up in the back of their mind and sleep for at least a week! Currently she was outside with Shippo. She and Kikyo had gone into the dojo that morning with Shippo to practice. Kikyo had decided that she needed training and it would appear more plausible in their story. Shippo was extremely happy with the training.

Looking up from her place by a pond, she saw Shippo was happily running around with Rin. She knew Shippo wouldn't go too far from her presence. A hand touched her leg and Chi turned her eyes to Zia. Ever since that first night, Zia had become her constant companion. It was odd. The youkai in this land around her had immediately recognized her as a threat. Zia on the other hand recognized her as friend. Zia had even recognized her as a guardian. Zia intrigued her. She spoke very little but when she did it was almost as if the youkai recognized what was in her mind.

“You are wondering of my acceptance.” Chi gave her an annoyed look, but the youkai merely laughed softly. They always spoke in Zia's language which confused and frustrated the others around her. Chi had recognized this and had immediately begun to help improve her Japanese.

Zia smiled once she stopped laughing. “My people, the people of Turtle Island… we recognize the good and evil spirits and so we are more open to the strange.”

Chi scoffed. “I am not strange.”

Zia laughed once more. “You are different.” Zia refused to speak after that. An hour or so later, a servant appeared. He cowered near her, bowing. Chi smirked. Most of the servants here now knew she was no weakling and she didn't even have to use her miko powers. Or any powers for that matter.

“Lady Kikyo, my Lord has summoned you and your companions to his study.” Rising from the ground, she nodded. Zia rose as well, as if a shadow. Walking to Shippo, she waited. It didn't take but a moment for the kit to turn to her.

“Is it time Mother?” She nodded and began to move away.

Shippo looked to Rin and smiled. “Come on Rin. We are going to be leaving!”

Rin grinned. “Okay Shippo!”

As they reached the study door, Zia's tail stilled. “They are all there.” Chi nodded and entered. Settling in a pillow, Shippo settled next to her. Rin ran over to Sesshomaru, sitting by his feet. Zia remained standing; her face lowered.

Chi's eyes focused on the Kitsune Lord. “Now that you have all arrived, I have made my decision.” He glared at Chi but she merely smirked. “I will be joining your party. We will leave within the hour.”

Kikyo nodded, bowing afterwards. “We are ever grateful Youkai-Sama.”

“You call me Hiroki-Sama. Enough of this Youkai-Sama.” Kikyo nodded. Hiroki dismissed them. When Chi saw Zia wasn't moving, she paused.

“Hiroki-Sama.” The Kitsune Lord pinned her with his gaze. He was waiting. “I wish to travel as well.” Her Japanese was better, but she still needed some work.

“Very well Zia.” Zia bowed low to him before leaving the room. Chi glanced back at the kitsune in confusion. For a moment, she had felt pure energy coming from him. His gaze turned to her and narrowed. Ah, there it was. She was almost used to the darkness within these youkais. Kagome had shown her though that people, youkai and human alike, could change. For her it was extremely difficult to prevent herself from removing the stain of darkness from this world.

Zia appeared as Chi was finishing packing. Looking up at her, she watched as the bobcat moved over to Shippo and gave him a sweet smile before ruffling his head. He growled, disgruntled. “Zia?” She had spoken in Japanese. Nodding in acceptance that any conversation around each other would need to be spoken in Japanese so everyone could understand as well as help her learn it faster.

“I travel with Spirit.”

“I am Chi, not Spirit.”

“Who is other within?”

Shippo spoke up. “That's Kagome but we have to call her Kikyo around the others. That Hiroki guy is dangerous to her.”

Zia frowned. “Hiroki-Sama kind though.”

Chi sighed. “He does not like I nor Kagome, Zia. He does not have an open mind like you or your people.” It took Zia a moment to understand.

She sighed sadly. “I protect Chi-Sama and Kagome-Sama then.” Shippo giggled.

Chi smiled. “Very well then Zia. Come, we must not keep the others waiting.” Shippo nodded and with Chi's permission, darted off to the others. Closing her eyes, she gave Kagome control once more, burying herself deep within their mind to recuperate.

Kagome blinked and stretched as she regained control. Glancing over at Zia, she watched the bobcat tilt her head. “You Kagome-Sama?”

Kagome smiled. “Yes but call me Kagome.”

Zia nodded. She bowed with a flourish. “I am Zia.”

Kagome giggled. “I know. Come on.” Kagome reached out and gently took Zia's hand, tugging her to the exit. Zia let out a soft laugh. Looking back, Kagome smiled. “Remember. Call me Kikyo except when we are completely alone.”

Zia nodded. “Kikyo wish to bathe with me tonight?”

Kagome smiled. “I'd love to! Sango and Ki… Kagome will want to as well.”

Zia nodded. “I make friends with them.” Kagome nodded. At that moment, they stepped out front.

Inuyasha growled. “About time you showed up wench.”

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut it Inuyasha. I'm early. Heck, even the Northern Lord isn't here yet.” Inuyasha grumbled under his breath. It was the fact that they were wasting time hunting down these lords rather than finding Naraku.

Kikyo touched his arm gently. “He can't escape us again Inuyasha.” He sighed and nodded. So far, the only ones there were Kikyo, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Shippo, Kirara, Zia, Rin and Ah Un. Surprisingly, Jaken hadn't introduced his loudmouth yet. Thankfully, he had vanished during their stay. After a couple of minutes, their missing members arrived. As one, the humans turned and prepared to travel. Kirara transformed and Sango and Miroku got on. Kikyo hopped on Inuyasha's back. Rin got on Ah Un with Jaken.

As the rest took off, Hiroki turned his gaze to Kagome. “You intend to run?” Kagome gave him a cheeky smile.

“Don't think a human can keep up?”

Zia at that moment stepped in. “She travels on me Hiroki-Sama.” Hiroki gave an abrupt nod in acceptance. Kagome watched Zia transform and gasped. She was truly beautiful. She was mostly brown with black patches. She stood a little bigger than Kirara. As she kneeled, Kagome climbed on. She glanced to Shippo and saw him transform as well.

She chuckled. “Show off.” She watched him strut out the gate, knowing he heard her. Holding on, she gasped as Zia took off at a run.

They had traveled far by the time they stopped for the night. Zia was the one that stopped them. Even as dark came, she continued running. She stopped as soon as she smelled a hot spring. Between Kagome, Zia and Shippo, they had the campsite set up by the time the others caught up. Inuyasha let Kikyo off, grumbling about stupid cats. Zia ignored the jab though. Hiroki and Sesshomaru simply settled against a tree to rest. Kagome had already started cooking a deer that Zia had caught. Shippo had found some potatoes and carrots.

Standing, she smiled. “Sango, Kagome, want to take a bath?” Instantly, their faces lit up.

Shippo smiled. “I'll keep watch of the food Mother.”

Kagome kissed Shippo's head. “Thank you love.” He blushed and plopped himself by the fire. Zia rose as well and followed the girls.

As they each slid into the hot spring, each let out a long sigh. Kagome glanced at Zia. She motioned for silence before erecting a barrier. “Okay, we can talk freely.”

Both Kikyo and Sango let out heavy breaths. “Finally!” Kagome chuckled at Sango. “What, it feels odd calling you Kikyo.”

Kikyo chuckled. “Yes, it is odd to have to tell myself not to answer to my name.” Kagome chuckled.

Glancing at Zia, she watched the bobcat as she leaned against the edge, her eyes closed in pleasure. “Do you have hot springs in your land Zia?”

Zia opened her eyes. “Oh, no. I find hot springs first here in this land. Have many.”

Kikyo smiled. “I suppose we do.”

Sango leaned forward, interest in her eyes. “So, you are a bobcat youkai?” Zia nodded. “What kind of abilities do you have?” Zia tilted her head, trying to decipher what Sango meant. After a few minutes, understanding came into her eyes.

Raising her hand, her claws began to glow blue. “Weapon. Make things go away. Make things…” She waved her hands.

Kagome turned and pulled a leaf. “Show us.” Zia smiled. She took the leaf with her hand that wasn't glowing and then let the leaf drop into her glowing hand. The leaf began to burn, igniting it on fire.

“Can all bobcats do this?” Zia nodded. “It like poison. Eat, eat, eat until ash.” So, it wasn't really fire. More like a poison that was so hot it could burn things.

Kikyo spoke up. “Do your kind all have ears like you?” Kikyo mimed the cat ears on Zia's head.

Zia nodded. “Pure and half have. Only pure have tail.” She flicked her tail. Kagome giggled.

Suddenly a thought came to her. “I thought bobcats were isolated creatures.”

Zia nodded. “Tribe spread. Humans stay close. Half lives outside village. Pure wander in territory. Only come together to mate with human, half or full.”

Sango frowned. “Your people don't mate for life?”

Zia let out a long, soft laugh. “No. Find eligible female, woo and mate. Mating don't stay for life. Many, many mates. Most male stop at 10 mate and pick different one for each mating.” All three women gaped in shock.

In the camp, the males were silent. Inuyasha was seated in a tree as usual, sulking. He refused to even acknowledge the fact that Sesshomaru was here. Shippo was minding his own business, keeping an eye on the older kitsune. Miroku was staring off into the woods, lost in thought. After a while, Miroku rose. Shippo spoke without looking up. “I wouldn't do that if I were you Miroku.”

Miroku appeared surprised and shocked. “Do you have so little faith in me Shippo?”

Inuyasha snorted. “As much faith as I have in the fact that me and Sesshomaru will kiss and make up.”

“You will refrain from speaking in such a way about my person half breed.” Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Sesshomaru was used to their group. However, Hiroki was not. He looked confused at the males. He watched the monk slip into the woods.

Hearing Shippo snort, he looked at the kit. Perhaps now was a good time to find out why this youkai truly thought of that human as his mother. He moved next to the fire. Shippo stiffened, watching him from the corner of his eye. Even though he had grown, he was still young. It was also the fact that he did not like the way this youkai looked at his mother. “Why do you call her mother kit?”

Shippo looked up at him, narrowing his eyes. “I don't have to tell you anything.”

Suddenly, Inuyasha grunted. Looking over, Shippo saw he had descended. Settling near Shippo, he eyed Hiroki. “It's not like its anything bad Shippo. Go ahead and tell him.” Shippo looked at Inuyasha in confusion. This sounded more like a mature Inuyasha.

Narrowing his eyes on Hiroki once more, he huffed. “My dad was killed by the Thunder brothers. Mother rescued me. I had a shard of the Shikon No Tama and instead of killing me, she helped me gain vengeance for my father. As I had no family, I stayed with her. She adopted me in human fashion and youkai fashion.”

He watched the kitsune's eyes grow distant in thought. “You willingly exchanged blood with a priestess?”

Shippo bristled. “Of course, I did. She isn't like other priestesses. She even changed Ki… Kagome!” He had almost slipped. Hiroki narrowed his eyes at Shippo, catching the slip. They were hiding something. Shippo refused to back down. He glared right back.

The glaring contest was broken when four shrieks rang out over the woods. Hiroki rose swiftly but the other males remained where they were. Rin was giggling in her spot by Ah Un. Jaken was of course unconscious, having annoyed Sesshomaru earlier. Hiroki growled as Inuyasha groaned and Shippo snickered. “I did warn him Inuyasha.”

Standing, Inuyasha walked back to the tree he was in earlier. “The lecher will never learn.”

Hiroki spoke up. “Why are you simply sitting when your women scream?” Shippo raised his eyes. He had a blank look in his eyes.

“Oh yeah, Miroku was on his best behavior while at your palace. The monk is lecherous. He tends to proposition every female we come across. Asks them to bare his children.” Shippo shook his head. “He should know by now not to go watch the girls bathe. Between Sango and my mother… it's a scary sight.” At that moment, Kirara rose and left. After a few minutes, she returned in her larger form carrying an unconscious monk in her jaws. She settled him near a tree before moving to rest at the edge of the clearing in the direction of the hot spring. Hiroki looked over at the monk and winced a little. It looked as if the monk was damaged in the head.

As the girls returned, they each glared toward Miroku's direction. Kagome grumbled under her breath about lecherous monks while Sango was content to glare in Miroku's direction, her hands clenching as though grabbing her Hirakotsu. Kikyo's expression was dark as well. Zia didn't seem to be perturbed though. If anything, she was blushing. The girls settled around the fire. Shippo passed out the food. He hesitated with Hiroki though. He was surprised when the kitsune kindly accepted the meal. Returning to Kagome's side, he began to eat, keeping his gaze on the elder kitsune.

As they all finished eating, Kikyo rose. She glanced over to Kagome. Instantly, she nodded and rose. Shippo got up as well, sticking close to Kagome's side. As they moved, Kikyo leaned close to Inuyasha and spoke quietly in his ear. Right before they left their clearing, Sango rose with Kirara. “I'm coming as well.” Kikyo looked toward Sango and nodded. They were surprised to see that Zia had risen as well. Apparently, this was going to be a usual then. Kagome smiled toward Zia happily.

The males remained as they were although Hiroki was watching them with interest. Was this a usual? He glanced toward Sesshomaru, but he was silent. Young Rin was sleeping happily against Ah Un. Turning to look at the monk and the hanyou, he studied them. It wasn't worth it he decided. Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the tree.

Rin kept her breathing slow and deep. She kept her heart steady even though she was excited. She wanted to go watch the training. Maybe they could even teach her as well. Ah Un shifted so that he was blocking her from view. A smile appeared. Ah Un truly was her greatest ally in this devotion. She wanted to be strong like Kagome. Like Shippo. She didn't want to be weak. Ah Un recognized that in her. During the times that Sesshomaru had left and Jaken had gone off to get away from her, he had trained her. There was only so much the dragon could teach her though. He recognized that fact and had agreed to help her. Un's tongue gently scraped her arm and she moved quietly. She shifted and proceeded to crawl underneath Ah Un's tail. As soon as she was out of the clearing, crawling the whole way, she rose and took off at a run. She would find them.