InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ phases ❯ What ya got ( Chapter 5 )

Ch.5

What Ya' Got?

Kagome sighed thoroughly exhausted. She had spent all day preparing for the arrival of the youkai. She had been looking forward to the feast and most importantly meeting the much-anticipated youkai warriors. She had just pulled Shippou from his room when a frantic young man came running and panting. Quickly interpreting what he was trying to convey through his gasping breaths, she had run to her room collecting her bag of herbs Kaede had once taught her to use.

It had taken the group all of ten minutes to reach the young mans hut and hear the desperate cries of the young mother inside. Kagome quickly took over expertly calming the mother and coaxing her to push through the pain. Offering her words of encouragement and watching as a new and beautiful life entered their world. Kagome had been livid after hearing the midwife had refused to aid her on the grounds the unborn child had been conceived in sin. The young parents having engaged in premarital relations.

Every fiber of her raged to set the 'stupid, superstitious old hag' right, but She had quickly decided against it remembering just how different this era was. Blessing the young parents and tiny new-born Kagome quickly made her way back to shippou and their horses. She was exhausted and entirely ready to pass out in her room, pouting momentarily as she realized she would most definitely need a bath before doing so. The two had finally set out towards home well after midnight and she bemoaned missing out on even the planned meeting.

'I shouldn't be too upset, after all I can easily meet them all tomorrow.' She quickened the pace smirking inwardly. 'Perhaps the boys have set up some training for tomorrow, hoping to out man eachother. HA! Oh well, as long as I get my turn.'

The morning rays filtered through the room coaxing her to wake just as it had every morning for the past nine years. She had woken slightly less enthusiastic than she had been the night before, her dreams wishing to plague her once again. Staring unseeingly past the softly lit screens waiting out the remaining fog of her dreams. She reached up wiping slow tears from her cheeks. 'This is becoming a habit."

Her dreams hadn't been riddled with heartbreaking memories, in fact the dream itself left her feeling rather warm inside, but the happiness the dream had lulled her into had turned to bittersweet longing as the sun's rays softly peaked through the screen of the shoji. He had held her tightly as they sat under the branches of a very familiar tree. Whispering to her the plans he had for their lives together. Arms wrapped protectively about her waist as they reveled in the others company, lazing away in the tree. All in all it would make for a good dream but the realities of the situation had quickly turned it into nothing more than hopeful longing.

Forcing down her sadness she rushed to get ready. She would be damned if she wasted the day away moping in her bed. She was much too excited at the possibilities the day held. Throwing on her favorite kimono and covering it with a plain robe. Pulling her thick hair into a loose bun at the top of her head, Kagome rushed to leave her room stopping instantly when her white and red mask caught her eye. 'perfect!' Quickly grabbing her mask she rushed towards Shippou's room.

"Wake up lazy head! Today's a big day!" Shippou groaned as he ducked beneath the covers in hopes of escaping the sun's rays. "But its earlyyyy." Shippou whined. "Whining may have gotten you a lot when you were young and adorable but it doesn't work anymore, now get up!"

"So cold-hearted." Kagome laughed as Shippou tumbled out of the covers and moved behind the screen to get dressed. "Have you seen them yet, Kagome?" Kagome wandered about the room stopping to exam a certain little carved fox knowing exactly where he had gotten it from. "No, not yet. I'm hoping to get a head start and grab something to eat before heading to the fields. I have no doubt the men have something set up. You know how they all are and I'm itching to get some training in."

Shippou stepped from behind the screen turning once as Kagome nodded her head in approval. "Yeah, I have no doubt today will be far from uneventful. All those idiots trying to show off, not to mention the youkai" Shippou crossed the room and quickly attached his sword to his waist, watching out of the corner of his eye as Kagome returned his childhood toy. "Do you think they will spar with you?"

He heard Kagome's sigh as she turned to leave. "No, youkai men just as human men have their 'pride'. That's why I'm going to be wearing this!" Holding her mask out for Shippou to see, Kagome winked, feeling rather proud of her plan. "Youkai can smell the difference you know." Kagome glared as Shippou looked on innocently "I know that! I am a miko you know."

Shippou watched as Kagome practically skipped out of the room. 'Sometimes I worry about her.' He laughed inwardly as they made their way down the hall into the kitchen. Both Shippou and Kagome lunged for the table intent on quieting their growling stomachs in as little time as possible. "So, what kind of youkai do you think they are?" Shippou looked over his bowl waiting for her reply. "I'm not sure but we'll find out not too long from now."

Shippou had little time to react as Kagome put down her bowl and made her way out of the kitchen. "I've got a few things I've got to do before I head out." Kagome said as she wandered out into the courtyard. "like what?"

"Well for one I need to find a man." Kagome said as she looked out over the garden. Shippou stiffened stopping immediately. "What?! Why?" Kagome almost laughed at the look of utter confusion on poor Shippou's face. "Calm down will ya, Jeez. I just need to find someone who I can borrow their scent from." Kagome stilled realizing immediately her description wasn't really explaining anything. "Just follow me, ok."

Shippou followed behind her stopping as Kagome ran up to a middle-aged and rather sweaty man. Watching in horror as Kagome's innocent 'Good morning' turned into a large hug. "What the hell was that about?" He whispered as Kagome jogged up next to him. "Smell me."

"What?" He asked eyeing Kagome suspiciously. 'She's finally snapped. All this excitement has gone to her head.' Kagome mumbled something about 'being as dense as a certain hanyou' as she grabbed Shippou's neck pulling him towards her, his head smashing roughly into her right breast. "Ah, let me go, wench!" flailing his arms in vain as she only held him tighter.

"You better smell me right now!" Shippou stopped as his nose finally picked it up. "You smell like that guy. I don't smell 'you' at all." Kagome rolled her eyes as Shippou straightened himself out. "Well I can't exactly go around smelling like nothing at all, can I? Those youkai would catch on immediately." Shippou's eyes widened in realization. 'Brilliant!' "There's a reason why your my mom." Laughing softly as they walked towards the fields. "Damn right, there is!" They walked a few feet before Kagome turned on the unexpecting kit making firm contact with his cheek. Shippou immediately cradled the abused flesh. "What was that for?"

"That? Oh, That was for calling me a wench." Shippou mumbled as Kagome turned securing her mask. Waiting 'till she was out of ear shot he grumbled under his breath "wench"

"I heard that!"

'I swear that woman 'aint all human!'

The air was thick with the smell of sweat and hints of blood as each man pushed their bodies to the limit, determined not to be undermined by the other. Each of Yutto's men concentrating on their moves trying to execute their moves flawlessly, after all their was no room for error when their was a group of trained youkai warriors watching your every move. "Damn, they've been at this all morning. Don't humans need to take a break?" Hideki asked as he layed back on his hands. "Of course they need a break. You can smell the fatigue." Shouta commented as he wrinkled his nose. Yuudai paused briefly, a mouthful of mochi, as he looked across the field. "Weird. I wonder why they don't just stop."

"It's because we're here." all four turning to see Katsuo walking up the hill. "Finally what took you so long?...Where's Inuyasha?" Katsuo kept his eye on the men as he answered Yuudai. "Inuyasha is gone, he left late last night after you all passed out from drink.." Yuudai snorted unhappy with Katsuo's answer. "What the hell! Sesshomaru wants us to make nice with these guys and our 'fearless leader' 'aint even here. Where the hell did he run off to?" Katsuo ignored Yuudai and his foul mood as he counted the men across the field. "Katsuo." The makeshift leader cringed at Shouta's deep, expectant voice. "He did not say, but I believe it has something to do with his past as a hanyou. He is heading south towards musashi and we should expect him back before the next new moon.

Katsuo turned away as the group grew quiet. Waiting for the inevitable interrogation. 'Why does he do this to me? Running off and leaving me like this! Damn him!'

"Hey, Youkai! How about a dual?" All five looked down in confusion as a tall dark-haired man stood in the middle of the field. "Is he crazy? He want's to spar with one of us? He's one gutsy human." Hideyoshi said as he looked over towards the human samurai."That or he's really stupid." Hideyoshi looked over at Katsuo as he made his way over. "And I'm betting it's just stupidity." Katsuo smirked at Yuudai's words. "So, Katsuo, What say you, since you're the one in charge 'n all?"

"Well you heard the man. He want's to spar." Yuudai jumped up excitedly "Let me go, I'm dying for some action!" hoping from foot to foot punching his fists into the air. "Alright just remember to go easy. Sesshomaru sent us here to help them not kill 'em."

"Yeah, yeah Got it boss." Katsuo watched in amusement as Yuudai made his way down the hill cracking his hands and neck. He snorted as he heard Yuudai declare from the bottom of the hill "Your wish is my command, mortal." Katsuo sat back to watch. Surprisingly the man held his own pretty well against Yuudai and in the end both bowed congratulating the other on their skills. 'Well that went well.'

It didn't take long for more men to wander on to the field and soon enough Hideki, Hideyoshi and Yuudai were mingling with the men below drinking a cup or two of offered sake. "It's a good thing those guys don't have any problem with humans." Said Shouta as he sat on a boulder next to Katsuo. Katsuo laughed as he watched the three. "I think those guy's would make friends with anybody who gave them sake."

"I thought there was only fourteen men?" Shouta stated quietly. "There is." Katsuo said impassively as he kept his eyes on the men mingling below. "Then who are they?" Katsuo looked to where Shouta pointed and there across the field were two figures. His eyes caught on the young boy. His long auburn hair pulled into a high ponytail, wearing grey hakama and blue kasode. Katsuo leaned over trying to catch a glimpse of his face as he turned away talking to the other. 'A mask? That must be the onna Lord Yuuta was telling Inuyasha about. Smart girl'

Katsuo turned away as the two got lost in the crowd of human men. Falling on his back, closing his eyes and thanking the Kami he hadn't had to stop an all out brawl between the two troops. He was quickly pulled from his silent prayers as Shouta grunted. "What is it?" Shouta nodded towards the field."That one wears a mask."

Katsuo shot up amused at the girls guts as a voice rang out across the field. "He Wishes to fight." Katsuo smirked as the masked figure stalked out to the middle of the field. 'So, Yuuto's little Onna wishes to fight a demon.' Katsuo motioned to Shouta. "Go get the guys and tell Hideyoshi he's up. I want to see what this 'guy's' got." Shouta grunted and stiffly made his way down the hill. '...Well woman, lets see what ya' got.'

A.N.

Well I hope you guys like this chapter. Finally a little action or actually the build up to it :P Next chapter should be fun!

By the way Just want to let you guys know that It may take a while for me to get chapters 6 and 7 out. This story was "pre-writen" up to 8 chapters and then I went on a creative rampage and decided most of my chapters needed some major overhaul and those two are still in limbo as of this moment. Anyways, thanks for being so patient!