InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ phases ❯ Our saving grace ( Chapter 2 )

Ch.2

Our Saving Grace

The morning had started off well but Kagome quickly found herself hardpressed to keep her happy demeanor. Hoping to enjoy the gardens before a day of training, she had been caught and trapped by no other than Takeshi himself. Once again professing his love to his most 'beautiful flower' only to be once again gently turned down. Kagome hated having to deal with the awkwardness of their encounters and she hated even more that she felt so uncomfortable around a man as sweet as he.

Kinjo Takeshi had succeeded in completely and utterly boring her to tears as he had insisted on sharing with her his thoughts on life and more often than not a poem to go along with it. All personally authored by the bright eyed young samurai himself. Finally able to make her way out of the room she found the sun slowly receeding into the distance. "I will see you at the meeting then, Kagome -san?"

Kagome peaked over her shoulder at the handsome young man and grimaced. "Yes of course." Hurrying away least Takeshi find more poetry to read. She cursed herself for loosing so much daylight. 'Dammit! My whole day was wasted!...I did'nt even get my lunch.' figuring she had about three hours left before Lord Yuuto shared his news, she headed for the dojo in hopes of accomplishing something today. 'Perhaps I can get a bit of work in, before preparing for the meeting.'

Kagome rushed down the hallway, she lost herself during her training ultimately leaving her with only minutes to prepare as best she could. 'Dammit all! How could I let myself get so distracted? Ugh I'll be glad when today is over...I only hope they have not started without me.' Lost in her thoughts she had not noticed when the young hime stepped out from her room causing her to slam into the tiny girl. Kagome quickly looked up to find the young Ruri. She had been only four when Kagome had saved her from a particularly weak lizard youkai. She had grown beautifully since, her porcelain face framed with a river of hair the color of obsidian. Her doll like face painted with a faint blush and lips the color of cherry blossoms. This girl was the image of a hime.

"I'm so sorry Ruri-san. I was lost in thought and I didnt realize you were there."

"Please, Kagome-san, do not worry it was but an accident. Are you off to the meeting with father?"

"Yes. Unfortunately I lost track of time, I'm hoping to get there before they start."

"Do not worry, Kagome-san. He has only now left the Kitchen." Gently placing her hand over her mouth she covered a small giggle. "You know how father is when good food is around." Smiling and covering a laugh of her own, Kagome knew exactly how the Lord could be around a full table of food. It was something that reminded her all too much of a certain ramen loving half demon. 'How can a mortal man put away as much food as a hanyou?' Giggling at the mental comparison of Lord Yuuto and Inuyasha battling it out over a table of food. "It's true, He could most ceratinly eat with the best of them...I'm sorry to cut this short hime, but I must leave."

"I understand, I hope to talk with you soon, Onna. It has been too long since we last had tea."

"It has. Perhaps we can arrange something soon?"

"Yes. That sounds lovely. Goodnight Kagome-san." "Goodnight, Ruri-san." With a soft bow she turned to leave making her way towards a room oozing with testosterone every samurai hoping to outman the other. 'Ugh I hope this does'nt last long. I already have a headache from all those hours of poetry.' Stoping in front of the shoji she smoothed back her hair and straightened her kimono. It was so much easier to get through these meetings when there was a lady present, reminding them all of their manners. 'It's go time, girl!'

"Ah Kagome-san, Hana no youni kirei. Please come in, we have only just begun." Making her way towards the Daimyo she tried her best to ignore the awkward stares. She had become accustomed to this. No matter how high of a position they held men would always drool over a pretty lady. "Well you all know why I have requested this meeting so lets get it over with shall we." Kagome had to grin as she watched Lord Yuuto closely. He was such a fierce and handsome Daimyo with a sweet and playful disposition but despite his sunny demeanor he had commanded the respect of his subjects. It was not a fear but pure respect something Kagome was sure not many men could lay claim to.

"It is well known that the enemy has employed help from certain youkai causing our troops to pull back. It is unknown as to exactly how or why these demons have agreed to help, but we have reason to believe the enemy has offered portions of land as an incentive. Hamada-san, do you have any news from the outlying camps?" The tall and quiet man that was Hamada akio, stepped forward. Akio had always been very kind and very reserved. He was also much older than most of the men in the room, a few of which were his own sons. His experience had left many to greatly venerate the man despite his somewhat disconcerting personality.

"My lord, as of this week alone we have lost three additional camps to the enemy attacks. At the time of these attacks all three troops were well within our borders. This only goes to prove how fast our enemy is advancing." A young man who had yet to experience his first taste of real battle spoke up as his fear began to rise. "What can we do Lord? We stand no chance against these devils! We will accomplish nothing regardless of how many more men we enlist in our battle. Mere man stand no chance. The youkai filth will push there way here. Destroying everything, pillaging, burning our homes and places of worship. They will rape our women and slaughter our children!"

By the time he was done the young man was teetering on pure panic. His crazed speach had brought up worries Kagome had herself. It was true that these men stood no chance against a full fledged demon. Bringing in more troops would do nothing but provide more fodder for the enemy. There was little they could do unless theLord had an army of monks and miko as his trump card. 'Feh! And Totosai would remember what he had for breakfast!' There was one thing she was sure would help, if only she knew where to find an army of demons who would willingly help 'Those pathetic humans'. 'Ugh this meeting is giving me a headache.'

Kagome was pulled from her thoughts as a rather plump midle aged man spoke up. "I have heard talk of a village, a village full of demon exterminators. Perhaps we could send word and ask for there assistance." The man's proposal had left the room in a false sense of calm as the room erupted in quiet agreement. Kagome drew a deap calming breath and rubbed at her temples as she prepared for the 'let down'. "I am sorry to say but the village you speak of no longer exists. It was destroyed almost eight years ago by the dark hanyou, Naraku. Leaving only two survivors."

Kagome dropped her head at the onslaught of questions. Squeezing her eyes shut as the room buzzed with the reemergence of the shortly alleviated panic. "The two remaining exterminators, why could we not request there help? The tales say there was only one Taijya in the group that defeated Naraku of which I'm sure these lowly demons could not compare to in power." The same pudgy man from before had offered trying valiantly to keep his suggestion afloat.

Kagome prepared to once again puncture the bubble that would have been a brilliant and strategic plan. 'Well in all honestly it would be a brilliant idea, had the entire village not been destroyed by a completely insane and borderline androgynous psychopath.'

"As good as that would be it is as equally impossible. The Taijya that helped bring down Naraku has given up slaying all together to start a family of her own and although the younger does still actively practice. I believe him to be too inexperienced for a venture such as this. Neither would be of much help to us." Although her entire speech was as untrue as Kagome's poor assesment of Kohaku's ability. She knew full well the boy would have been a great asset, Sango as well but she was determined to leave her friends far away from this. They deserved their peace and had already fought their own battles. '...and winning victoriously."

"I'm sorry Kagome san, but how is it you know so much about these taijya. The battle with Naraku as well? You sound as if you were there but there was only five a Taijya, buddhist monk, a shinto miko a kitsune...and...a hanyou. There are no tales of an Onna bugeisha in their company. Perhaps you know more than you share...Onna." She could feel every eye on her as the possible implications of the accusation blanketed over the crowd of men.

"That's enough! " Kagome allowed for a tiny sigh to slip from her mouth. All to aware that the blanket of suspicion still hovered over the room, but at least she no longer felt the burn of their eyes."But Lord the implications? She could very well be withholding valuable information and resources. Its tantamount to treason!" Lord Yuuto stood to stare the man straight in the eye as he spoke "Such an idea is utterly porposterous! I have taken Kagome san in and I feel as if she is my own and I will not allow anyone to smear her name! Tell me Kagome, how is it you know of such things?" Kagome didnt miss the look in his eyes as she quickly but calmly, forcefully so, relayed her partial truth. A rather liberal abridgement from the actual truth.

"Before being offered a home with the Lord, when I was still very young. I lived in a small village that became home to the wayward Taijya and her husband. I became aquainted with them and heard tales from their travels. It was not long after that I was forced to leave, finding myself orphaned...That is how I came to know much about the 'inutachi'. Kagome hated downplaying her relationship with two who had become so close she found them to be more siblings than friends, but if they found that she indeed knew much more,their panic had excelerated so, she was sure they would aquire the information by 'any means' leaving her broken and her friends dragged into someone elses war. There was no way anybody could know.

"There you have it men. Kagome is no traitior she is but a girl with a colorful past. I expect that you offer her the proper respect she deserves." The Heat of his stare made it clear that was to be the end of that little 'detour'. "Now if we can please continue on with the subject at hand..." Kagome followed his gaze as he focused on the slightly open shoji as Hotaru motioned softly to Kagome. Kagome excitedly turned towards Lord Yuuta awaiting his approval. With a curt nod Kagome made her way towards Hotaru passing through the orantely decorated screen Kagome turned to bow. shutting the screen and running down the hall she smiled. She hadn't missed the small smile as she closed the shoji.

Kagome rushed to her room opening and closing her shoji almost withtin the same instant. Turning to find a hooded figure standing by her desk, she forced down a squeal of excitement, quickly rushing towards the figure. "Musuko!" At the sound of her voice the figure dropped his hood rushing to open his arms "Okaasan."

"Shippou, you grow more and more handsome everytime I see you." Kagome watched as the Kit's cheeks dusted with a lovely shade of pink. It hade been six years since they both made different ways in this world and though he may be grown and no longer look like that 'mischevious runt' he once was he was still prone to blushing like a child when Kagome would praise him. She had always known he would grow to be handsome, his shaggy auburn chin length hair and piercing green eyes only solidified a fact she had already known. Pulling away from the embrace Kagome motioned for him to sit with her. Shippou's visits were often but not often enough and she intended to hear of everything he had accomplished while he was away.

"I hope you're hungry. I have Kina coming to bring us something to eat." Kagome couldn't hide her excitement at the surprise visit. "So musuko, what brings you here so early? I didnt expect you for another two months. Did you miss me that much?" Shippou grinned sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "Well yes, of course I've missed you okaasan...I also had a break from my studies so I decided I would surprise you." Kagome giggled softly as Shippou fiddled with a loose hem on his haori. "Here, let me see your haori. It's my duty as an okaasan to make sure my son is'nt running around in rags." Shippou quickly aquiesced and made quick work of removing it before Kagome jumped on him to pull it off herself. He knew for a fact just how exciteable she got when he visited. "After all I've got to be sure you can woo yourself a lovely young lady."

Shippou quickly turned a lovely shade of red and Kagome laughed as Shippou 'scolded' her for her teasing. Making quick work of finding her needle and thread, she returned to her cushion across him. "It's been too long since our last visit. Tell me Shippou, how is your training going?" Shippou leaned back on his hands and sighed. He turned his gaze from the night sky in favor of watching his mother slowly repair his shirt. 'This would be perfect if only...' Shaking his head at his melancholly thoughts, he sat up slowly.

"It's been well. I'm exceeding at everything. My illusions have gotten really good, I'm at the point now where I could hold a form for great lengths of time...with no tail! Shippou shifted his weight to one hand. "My swordsmanship has also greatly improved. Sensei said I have even surpassed him and I will need to find someone more skilled to continue my training with. The others tease me. They say I'm walking in the footsteps of The great Inu..." Shippou trailed off quickly noticing the distant look in Kagome's eyes. "Kagome, I'm..."

They both turned as the soft sound of the sliding shoji quickly interupted the tense moment. "Here we are. I do hope you enjoy dango, Shippou-san." Rubbing his hands together hungrily he eyed the sweets with wide eyes. "I most certainly do, Hotaru! You are too kind." Before the kit could get any further Kagome grabed the plate of dango, leaving it's sweet deliciousness far out of reach. ' I was so close.' "No dango until you eat your dinner! Ugh I should never have given you all that candy...I've created a monster."

Kagome slid down to her cushion as the small table was set "You are more than welcome to join us Hotaru, if you are not too busy."

"I would love to Kagome-san, but I have yet to start the young hime's bath. I would like to take tea with you. Tomorrow evening perhaps?"

"That sounds very nice, Hotaru." With that Hotaru left the two unknowingly allowing the tension to rush back in her place. Both Shippou and she sat quietly until he decided to break the silence. "Have you talked to him... to Inuyasha?" Kagome sighed as she nursed the small cup of tea "No, no I have not." Shippou nodded his head letting her know he had heard her quiet reply. "You know...He could help you win this."

Kagome turned her head towards the moon. "I know..."

"It's been nine years, Kagome. I know for a fact you don't hate him, so why, Kagome?...why do you try so hard to run?"

"I don't know Shippou, not anymore...and even if this army would accept his help I have no idea what has become of him...I don't know where to find him." Shippou watched as her tears shined in the moonlight, the room growing quiet with only the sound of the small fire to break their silence. Shippou had always known that Kagome's love for Inuyasha had never faltered even when he left, tearing away a piece of her heart as he did so.

Shippou moved to her side as his arm wrapped around her shoulder drawing her closer to him. He stared up at the moon as her false walls gave way to her tears. He would let her wail, let her cry, let her grieve the loss of her love. It was his duty as her son. 'Don't worry okaasan, You'll see him again...I can feel it.'

"Tell us Lord, who is it that posseses an army that could take on youkai?" Lord Yuuto grimaced inwardly. Most of these men would undoubtedly oppose this decision, but he would be sure to see that they kept their unhappiness to themselves. He wasn't about to let their prejudice loose them the only chance they had left. "Our saviour, A great Lord of the West. He at first rejected our request for help, but when he heard that youkai made up a large part of the enemy troops. He quickly sent word that we should expect his men within the next lunar cycle."

"His name lord?" He had been waiting for this the entirety of the meeting. "Our help comes from The Great Inu-no-Taisho himself, Lord Sesshomaru." Ignoring the gasps and looks of surprise he quickly moved on. "He has offered the aid of his men, although he himself will not be present, he plans to send his second in command."

"What of his men Lord, how many will he send us?"

"He plans to send five of his finest men. Seeing as the enemy has employed the help of only low ranking demons, five warrior inu's should be more than enough...a long with their commander." Lord Yuuto quickly dismissed the council as he made his way down the hall to his study, Akio by his side. Shutting the shoji and making his way to the Daimyo's desk. "Five of the best inu warriors sound fair enough, they will undoubtedly be of great help...what of their commander My Lord?"

"...He sends us his brother...Inuyasha."

A.N.

OOOO what's this?! He sends Inuyasha you say? Sure didn't see that coming from a mile away! -_- Anywho guys don't fret Inuyasha will grace us with his presence soon enough, say...next chapter!