InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Serendipity ❯ Travelling Again / Sesshomaru Invesigates ( Chapter 8 )

I noticed an error in chapter 3 - A New Master! Kouga said he was Lord of the Eastern Lands when he introduced himself to Kagome, but he was actually supposed to Lord of the Northern Lands! Please disregard, sorry for the error! (Naraku is the Lord of the Eastern Lands.)

Also, I forgot to respond to a review that stated that kit refer to fox when I used the word to refer to Inuyasha in chapter 6. I checked the word up, and found that it does refer to "kit fox" which is a species of fox also called "swift fox" or "Vulpes velox" which is a small burrowing fox. However, the word also means "A young, often undersized fur-bearing animal." which would the meaning of the word used in the context I intended. (It's also short for Kitten too ^^ )

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Some review responses at the end, for those who warrants a response but did not include email address.

"Blahblah" - Dialogue
-------- Scene change [may go back in time a little to incorporate the POV of another character during the same time.]
/Blahblah/ - thoughts
[Blahblah] - AN & translations / explanations

Serendipity
~ sometimes blessings are disguised in the most unexpected ways ...

Chapter 8
Traveling Again / Sesshoumaru Investigates

"Inuyasha! What's wrong? Why are you so tense?" Kagome exploded. After almost a day of silent traveling, Kagome finally could not stand the stifling tension anymore.

For some reason, Inuyasha had been especially strung up since she woke up in the morning, and had ignored her most of the way. When she attempted casual conversation, all she got was a half-hearted "hmm" or "keh" in response. She could not even lean against him to relax as he'd tense up even more when she cuddled against him. The only good thing was that the split kimono allowed her to sit astride instead of sideways on the horse, allowing her a more comfortable position without having to lean into him.

When they had stopped for lunch in a village along the way, she found Inuyasha staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking, and she saw a strange look flash in his eyes a few times. She wondered what's happened to bring on this strange reaction from the easy-going but somewhat rash Inuyasha she had grown to know and like along the way to the castle before.

"Keh! It's just that we're going to see that stupid wolf again, I don't like him." Inuyasha let her know, though that was not the whole truth. Indeed, he was somewhat dreading having to see that wolf so soon, especially with Kagome in tow. He never know if the ookami youkai [wolf demon] would actually try to seduce Kagome away from him. However, the main reason for his tenseness was due to her proximity and his realization the night before. He couldn't very well just tell her that he had fallen for her out of the blue after barely a week of acquaintance; he needed some indication that she felt the same way, and so far she only seem to see him as a friend.

She was also a slave, his slave, his personal slave. She might think he was just after her body, which he did not want at all, especially since he was very drawn to her physically and she might take it the wrong way. Another problem lie with her status as a slave, he needed and way to remove her subduing iron bands and free her somehow. Her status as a slave was too vulnerable, and harm might come to her if it was known that he cared for her.

"Wolf? Again? What do you mean?" Kagome wondered, she only knew they were traveling to send a message to the Lord of the Northern Lands, she was not aware that they had met him before.]

"Remember that youkai who dared to ask to buy you when I found you in that human lord's castle? Unbelievable as it seems that someone as simple minded as him is the Lord of the Northern Lands, he is." Inuyasha half-growled. For some reason, they had just never seemed to get along, right from when they first met as pups centuries ago. They had roughed each other's fur the wrong way within minutes of meeting. Kouga had laughed and tried to grab at his ears, while he had pulled the wolf's tail in retaliation.

"Oh, he's the Lord we're going to see right now?" Kagome thought back to the youkai who had suddenly grab and kiss her hands soon after when she just met Inuyasha. She wondered what kind of person he was, though she felt a bit uneasy at the wolf's blatant interest in her when they first met.

Inuyasha felt the change in Kagome, and put an arm around her waist to try and reassure her. "Don't worry, I'll smash his face in if he tries anything with you." he said gruffly. /You're mine./

Kagome smiled to herself, she had a feeling Inuyasha would never let anything bad happen to her if he could help it. Somehow, she just felt so safe around him, like when her father would hold her as she fall asleep when he was still alive. Unconsciously, Kagome leaned back into Inuyasha, seeking his strength and warmth.

Suddenly, she remembered what she had meant to ask him that morning about the strange kimono. "Inuyasha, why do these kimono have slits up the sides? I've never seen anything like them before."

"Most youkai females wear them, along with taijiya females when they needed to appear presentable when they appeared in courts or holdings of lords. The slits allow better movement of the legs when they need to fight, and allow them to ride astride." Inuyasha explained.

"Oh, I see." Kagome nodded slightly in understanding. They spent the rest of the ride in companionable silence, no longer laden with tension as Inuyasha had relaxed to her melodious voice.

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/Interesting./ Sesshoumaru thought as he surveyed the huge vertical crater in the side of a cliff where the body of Ryuukossen used to lie, sealed in eternal slumber, all the while remaining stoic as ever. Anyone passing by would have thought him to be an apparition, pristine form seeming to freeze unmoving in time, except for the glowing silver hair that waved languidly in the breeze.

Just as his spies reported, there was no sign that the huge body was moved; it seemed to have just disappeared. He noticed the strange jyaki that was mentioned in the report, which also seemed to have just appeared and disappeared. However, he could track a faint scent leading towards the Eastern Lands.

/So, it would seem that whoever perpetrated this is in the Eastern Lands. I wonder if that shadowy Naraku know anything about this, I wouldn't put it past him to try and stir up a war just for his sick pleasure. Even though I do not trust in the disturbing rumours about him, the state of the Eastern Lands is a good indication of how dishonourable he is./

Instead of tracking the scent into the tumultuous Eastern Lands, which he knew would be fruitless and a waste of time, he committed the scent and jyaki to memory so he would recognize it if he came upon it again. Then, he set off to find Toutousai, the famed sword-smith.

/If there was anyone who knew about the Legendary twin swords of the West, it would be him./

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Kagome sat with her legs drawn up to her chin, staring into the small campfire Inuyasha had set up. The hanyou is currently sitting in a nearby tree, while their horse was tied to another.

Not turning, still staring into the flickering flames, Kagome decided to sate some of her curiosity that had been nagging at the back of her mind since she first met her current master and found out his background.

"Inuyasha? What kind of person is your brother, exactly?" She inquired softly. She had heard many stories about the Taiyoukai family of the west, and also about the current Lord, one of the few remaining pure blooded Taiyoukai. The stories were plenty and varied, some painted the picture of a ruthless monster that was used to scare children who were naughty, others portrayed a just and honourable Lord who watched out for his people, albeit in his own way.

Kagome had grown up surrounded by intriguing stories and rumours about the stoic Lord. Her mother had been of those who did not think badly of him, often telling Kagome the better sides to this puzzling enigma of a taiyoukai. Her mother did not censor her from his callous treatment and handling of whoever dared to be in his way, but also told her of all that he did which benefited the people of his lands. Kagome had long since been literally itching to know more about this Lord.

She had already missed two chances to find out more about this Lord of so many conflicting tales when she met him before, though the circumstances were rather ill-favoured. She couldn't help but try to sate her curiosity when she's sitting here doing nothing while the brother of her musings was close by.

With his keen senses, Inuyasha have no trouble picking up Kagome's slight inquiry. Feeling somewhat miffed that the girl of his affections was so interested in someone else, his icicle of a brother no less, he answered in a rough voice.

"He's a cold bastard, that's what he is. Though ... I guess it's not really his fault. I think he just doesn't want to ever hurt like that again." Inuyasha gave a start of surprise at what he just said, he had not meant to voice his thoughts. /What is it about this girl that make me lower all my defenses around her?/

"'Hurt like that again?' What do you mean?" Kagome's interest was really piped now, and she would not easily give up without a satisfying answer.

"K'eh. It's non of your business." Inuyasha scoffed at her, trying to cover up his lapse in his signature way of being rude.

"I guess its not ..." Kagome replied in a rather hurt voice. She had wanted to give a hot retort, but realised it really was not any of her business, and that she rudely prying into their lives which she takes no part of.

"It is his story to tell, if he ever will." Inuyasha muttered softly, in guilty explanation for causing her sadness.

Kagome gave a half smile when she heard the soft words, understanding Inuyasha's disguised apology.

The rest of the night was spent in comfortable silence, as Kagome soon fell asleep curled up beside the fire under Inuyasha's watchful eyes.

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"Toutousai." A frigid voice pierced through the scorching heat of the volcano, descending like a bucket of freezing water on the tired sword-smith currently drowsing off into slumber after a satisfying day's work.

"What? Who? How?" The old youkai jerked awake, looking around frantically, exhausted brain not registering the glacial presence that stood at such contrast to the rest of the fiery cave.

"Tell me what you know about the 'twin swords of the west'." Sesshoumaru commanded, with barely veiled disgust at the filthy condition of the cave and its owner. He wondered if he really was as good as the rumours said, if he worked in such conditions.

"Ah, yes, Sesshoumaru I believe? You are just like the rumours I have heard." Toutousai took in the emotionless Lord who wore an aura of indifference like a cape, so out of place in his humble little cave.

Sesshoumaru merely sent him his famous death glare, warning him wordlessly that he had better answer or suffer the consequences.

With a gulp, Toutousai hurried to the back of his cave and returned with two plain-looking samurai swords.

"Here are the twin swords. Mind you, don't judge anything by their cover. These two swords are the master piece of my life, forged from the fangs of your great ancestors themselves." Toutousai handed the swords over to Sesshoumaru, who scrutinized them with distain.

Turning his disbelieving gaze to the sword-smith, he clearly transmitted his thoughts to the aged youkai. /These are the legendary twin swords?!/

"I'm not lying to you! These swords are the Tessaiga and Tenseiga, a sword able to kill hundreds with one swipe and its twin that can heal or revive hundreds with a single swipe. Your father Inutaisho, the former owner of these swords, entrusted them into my care at the beginning of the war not too many centuries ago, with the instructions to give Tessaiga to Inuyasha and the Tenseiga to you if either of you should come looking for them. He did not want them to fall into unworthy hands through the turmoil of that war." Toutousai explained, fearing for his life.

"If I should find any spurious substance in what you have said, be assured that I will not be benevolent." With that, Sesshoumaru left the confines of the sweltering cave with two new additions to the sword at his sash.

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After another day of travelling, Inuyasha announced that they were getting very close to Kouga's pack.

"So soon?" Kagome wondered aloud. They had taken over 5 days to ride to the castle from the Southern lands, why did they only take 2 to reach the Northern lands?

"This is a demon mount that we are riding, and we do not have guards and slaves trailing us this time." Inuyasha guessed her train of thoughts easily, and answered her briefly. He was wounded up again with the scent of wolves near by and coming closer.

Before Inuyasha could warn Kagome, Kouga screeched to a halt in front of them amid a settling cloud of dust.

"Yo puppy, what brings you to my lands? Have you finally came to your senses and decided to give the lady to me as your peace offering?" The wolf youkai taunted Inuyasha with a arrogant smirk.

Inuyasha tightened his hold around Kagome and growled loudly at him, but refrained from entering their usual verbal sparring.

"I am here on business. I bring an important message from Lord Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha growled, itching to put his claws to good use, preferably covered with a certain wolf's blood and guts.

"Sesshoumaru does not want anyone else to know of this, he thinks it might be serious." He added before the wolf demanded him relief his message right there and then where anyone could be discreetly eavesdropping.

"I get it, follow me." In an instant, Kouga's demeanor shifted from playfully baiting Inuyasha to the Lord that he is.

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Settling into the furs in his makeshift cave that was provided for him during his visit of the White Wolves Tribe, Kouga waited impatiently for Inuyasha's message. Kagome had been left in the main den, with strict orders that anybody who dared to touch her would soon be missing their very important appendages.

"What is it?" Kouga demanded, patience had never been his fort.

With a glare, Inuyasha relayed his message in a matter of fact manner, trained by Sesshoumaru himself.

"Sesshoumaru's spy reported that Ryuukossei's body literally disappeared, with faint traces of unknown jyaki around the area. He feels that this might be leading to another war, though I have no clue why he thinks that. He wants me to bring back your response as to what you make of this."

"Ah, this. Yes, some of my wolves have reported similar findings to me. I personally don't think much of it, though I really hope Sesshoumaru's suspicions won't come true. It was a hard struggle to recovered to the current semblance of prosperity after the ruins left by the last war, we don't need another one." Kouga replied thoughtfully.

"Well then, if that's your response, I'll be on my way." Inuyasha briskly left to collect Kagome.

That was rather boring. Oh well, more Sesshoumaru definitely coming up, and I think Kagome is going to change masters pretty soon. Hopefully things will accelerate soon ... which I think it will.

Author Note:

I'm working with a different background for the characters, so a lot of character development will be somewhat different from how they will end up in the canon universe of the anime/manga. So if someone seems OOC a bit, thats why.

To: DarkLady from AdultFanFiction.net and punkinuyashaLVR from FanFiction.net (and anyone else interested or wondering)

I know it's a lot of Inu/Kag right now, however, it's only on Inuyasha's part. Kagome will not develop any feelings for him past friendship. In maybe a few chapters, more Sesshoumaru appearance will come forth, and finally some Kagome/Sesshoumaru interaction! I don't want to just throw them together and expect them to suddenly like each other, Inuyasha found her first and so now she's stuck with him! J/K - I think she is going to change hands pretty soon ... ^.~

Thanks to all the reviews! Sorry for the slow moving story, I'm trying to hurry it up too! But somehow all the little details seem to make their way in it +.+

-Kura

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