InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Two hours later, Inu Yasha's patience and endurance were stretched to the limit. He never was one for prolonged discussion, and especially not after the hard trip to get there. Add to that the drain of the establishment of his bond with Kagome earlier that day, and the result was one tired and edgy dog boy.

At least they knew what they were up against and had the outline of a plan to defend the Pass. Naraku, the ruler of the neighboring kingdom, had been slowly expanding his realm for years. Smaller city-states and principalities had been absorbed into his realm over the past decade. He now felt confident enough to try to attack Domain lands, and he was beginning with Kieran's Pass. If he controlled the Pass, he controlled one of the principal trade routes into the empire. Also, the Pass was a symbol of the Domain's strength. Its loss would be an incredible blow to morale and to the government's power.

The commander stood and stretched. "I thank you for your assistance. I know you must be exhausted after your trip. I'll have someone show you to your quarters."

"I'll do it, Father." Kagome walked into the room. Inu Yasha froze. Father? The commander was a good man, but even good men could be unreasonable when it came to their daughters. Naota liked him now, but how long would that last once he found out Inu Yasha had Bonded with his child?

"Kagome!" Naota's face creased in a smile at the sight of his daughter. "I'm sorry I couldn't come see you sooner, but…"

"I know, Father. I got the news of the alert." She turned to Inu Yasha and his cousin. "Thank you both for rushing to give us the news."

"Keh." Inu Yasha turned his head.

Kagome blinked. Miroku hurried to explain. "What my cousin means by that…noise…is that he could do no less as a man of honor. He is simply uncomfortable with thanks and praise."

She smiled. "I gathered."

Naota looked back and forth between his daughter and the two men. "Please allow me to introduce my daughter…"

"We have already met, Father. They were very helpful earlier today upon their arrival." Kagome hoped her father would leave it at that. She did not want to go into an explanation of the Bond while she was still coming to terms with it herself.

"Well, then," Naota stretched again. "Before I leave you to show them their quarters, Kagome, I have one last question for these two."

He turned to Inu Yasha. "Will you stay here for the battle? We could use as many seasoned warriors as possible."

Inu Yasha looked surprised. "Of course. We expected as much when we came to give warning." By a strong effort of will, he kept from looking at Kagome, but couldn't prevent a wave of protectiveness from traveling their bond. He felt an answering pulse of warmth and embarrassment. "And if you don't mind, I can put out a call for any shifters in the area to help with the defense. I know some humans aren't comfortable with too many of us in one place at a time, so…"

"I'm not one of those humans." Naota looked him straight in the eye. "And anyone who has that kind of problem will get over it. I won't have anyone's prejudice jeopardizing the security of this fort." Inu Yasha blinked, surprised at the steel in the other man's voice.

"Kagome will show you to your rooms. Good evening, Inu Yasha, Miroku."

"What about you, Father? You need to rest, too." Kagome asked, concerned.

"I will, honey. I just have a few more things to take care of. I won't be able to relax until I do." He smiled at his daughter.

"All right." She looked at the other two men. "If you will follow me?"

Later that night, after they had bathed and eaten their fill, Miroku, Inu Yasha and Conn returned to their assigned quarters. They had all been assigned to one of the upper levels of the castle so Inu Yasha would have easy access to the fort wall to avoid feeling too closed in.

This is where Kagome found him later that night. He sat in between two turrets, staring out at the plains. She came up and stood next to him.

"You're exhausted, I can feel it. Why haven't you gone to bed yet?" She asked.

"So are you." He said without looking at her. "Sorry I woke you earlier."

She laughed. Inu Yasha's impatience and irritation during the meeting with her father had indeed woken her earlier that day, and it was what brought her to the warroom in the first place. "It's alright. I didn't mind."

He suddenly stood up. "To answer your question, I'm going to put out a Call."

"A Call?" Kagome asked. "What do you mean?"

"It's a summoning to any shifters within range. Letting them know there's an invading body on the way, and asking them to come help defend."

Her eyes widened. "How can you do all that?"

He grinned slightly. "Better cover your ears." He took a deep breath, then another. "It's pretty loud."

She put her hand to her ears as directed and watched. She blinked as her skin began to tingle, and her Bonded began to glow with a white aura. He put his head back and howled. It was incredibly loud and piercing. She understood that the aura indicated the use of a magic that was helping him magnify the call. It hit the surrounding mountains and echoed back, long, after he stopped.

A moment after the last echo died, a howl was heard in response, then another, then a feline scream. Inu Yasha raised his eyebrows at the response.

"Wolf Clan, Panther Clan and a fellow Dog." Inu Yasha stated. "Actually, if I'm not mistaken, that sounded like my older brother. I wonder what business he has in this area."

With that he leaped down from his perch on the wall. Kagome faced him, amazement plain on her face. "I-I've never seen anything like that before in my life."

"Why should you? You've never had much exposure to shifters." He yawned. "Let's go to bed."

A wave of panic and confusion shot through the bond, and he could feel his face heating.

"I didn't mean it that way, you stupid girl! You should fucking know I don't force women. You should be able to sense that much."

Kagome's face was also red. "Are you going to able to feel all of my emotions?"

He sighed. "For the most part. You can consciously amplify or dim them, but the strongest ones can get through in spite of any tries to direct them."

"Oh," Kagome bit her lip. "I'll have to learn to control this better then."

He snorted. "Damn right you will. I can't have you distracting me during training or a battle. The last thing I need is to get distracted because my bitch is being overly emotional and can't control her-"

"Well, excuse me!" She shouted. Inu Yasha winced, both from the volume and from the feelings through the Bond. "It's not like I asked for this or you, or any of it! If that's how you feel, then let's just stay out of each other's way!" She pushed past him and ran into the castle.

"Shit." He had just been speaking without thinking as usual, and had not thought it would hurt her that much. He wondered if his parents had had this much trouble. Sighing, he made his way to bed.

The next morning found Kagome out training with Sango as usual. She could feel Inu Yasha in the back of her mind, a constant, strangely comforting presence…even if she wasn't speaking to him at the moment.

She strung her bow, and aimed at the target 40 paces away. Sango was to her left, targeting bales of straw with her enormous bone boomerang, Hiraikotsu. She was frighteningly proficient with it, having had various versions of it more than 10 years. She began training at age 8, with a version that was bigger then she was, but still smaller then the one she had now. As she grew, she was given bigger and bigger weapons, till her present one.

Inu Yasha and his men were also out training. Well, actually they were watching Sango hurl Hiraikotsu like it was a toy.

"Amazing," Miroku murmured. "What must it be made of for her to be able to toss it so easily?"

"Make no mistake, Miroku. That weapon has plenty of weight to it." One of his fellow fighters, Conn, came up next to him. He was a tall, burly red head, as dangerous as the double handed axe strapped to his back. "Just look at the impact it has on that pile of straw. Imagine what it would do to a body."

"As always, Conn, you have the right of it." He watched as it returned to the dark haired woman. She caught it in one hand, the force carrying her back a few feet. He stood up. "I want to satisfy my curiosity about that weapon."

Conn groaned. "The weapon or the woman using it? She's not some farmer's daughter, monk. She could kill you if you step wrong."

Miroku turned to his friend. "After watching her train, I have nothing but respect for her abilities…and nothing but admiration for the rest of her."

The big man shrugged. "Just remember what I said. " He walked over to where Kagome was still practicing her archery.

Miroku continued to Sango's area. "Sango," he called out. She turned around, surprised at being interrupted.

"Forgive me for my intrusion," he inclined his head, "But I am amazed at the skill you show with this weapon. You must have trained for years."

Sango forced down the nervousness she was feeling around this monk. "Yes. I've been training since I was eight." Feeling silly just holding the boomerang, she slung it across her shoulder in its customary carrying position.

"May I?" Miroku asked, holding out his hand.

"Oh. Oh, of course." Sango cursed herself. Why can't I speak around him without sounding like an idiot? She thought.

Miroku accepted the weapon from her with a surprised grunt. She tossed this heavy thing around like it was nothing. His respect for her grew.

He handed it back with an admiring smile. "You make it look so easy to handle, I was not prepared for the weight."

Sango could feel her face heat in the face of his obvious admiration. "Well, I've had a lot of time practicing, like I said. Like you must have with your staff." She stated in an attempt to steer the conversation away from herself.

"Yes…I've been with it so long, I almost feel naked without it." Sango swallowed at the thought of the handsome monk naked. Even his robes hid his form, he was a warrior and she was sure his body was just as appealing as his face.

"Well, umm. Yes. Well, I was just about finished with my training. I need to bathe before breakfast." Sango was desperate to escape this man who sent her feelings into such turmoil.

"Of course, I did not mean to keep you. I'll stay here a little longer and get in some practice of my own. It's not everyday that I have the privilege of observing such a beautiful warrior in action." He gave her a small bow.

She didn't think her face could get any redder. She turned around to leave while he was bowed and those incredible violet eyes weren't wreaking havoc with her brain. All of a sudden, she stiffened in shock. What was he---?

She spun around, dislodging the hand caressing her bottom. As the monk straightened in surprise, Sango slapped him across the face.

"What do you think you're doing?" she screamed.

"My apologies," he said smoothly, as if there weren't a large red handprint on his cheek. "It was just a reflex when faced with such loveliness."

Sango was practically choking on her indignation. She spun around and stalked into the castle, leaving a sighing monk behind her.

Across the yard Kagome looked up from where she was talking to Conn as her practiced archery. He had come over after talking to Miroku to see if she had an extra bow for him to practice with. She found him one and they had been shooting and talking ever since, developing an easy camaraderie.

"Sango?" she called out.

Conn sighed. "I told that monk to watch it. I'm surprised all she did was slap him."

Kagome turned to him, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Conn hesitated. Kagome was so open and friendly. She seemed incredibly innocent for someone living in a fort and he was unsure of how much to tell her. "Miroku…has a problem being a little too friendly."

"Too friendly? What's wrong with being friendly?" Kagome turned big eyes on the redhead.

"Well…" he scratched his head. "It's only…only with women." There, he thought. Hopefully she'll know what I mean.

"What do you mean?" I am just no good at being subtle, he thought.

"What he means," a familiar slightly rough, low voice said, "is that he's a dirty fucking monk and can't keep his hands off women. Judging by the handprint on his face, he must have groped Sango and she gave him what he deserved." Inu Yasha strode up, covered in sweat.

Kagome ignored the little thrill that shot through her at the sight of him after his morning workout. As if his hair and eyes weren't striking enough, his tall lean frame was enough to have more than one woman in range giving him appreciative glances. She held in the possessive growl that wanted to break out at the thought. Judging by his faint smirk, she didn't do a good enough job. Her shoulders slumped. I have got to get better at blocking, she thought.

Conn cleared his throat. "Those weren't the words I would have chosen---but I guess they still get the right message across. He's a good man, though…please don't think he's a bad person for it. He'd never hurt a woman."

Kagome started. "Of course not! Inu Yasha would never travel with anyone like that!"

Conn blinked. "True enough. I hadn't realized you two were acquainted."

Kagome felt her face heat. She glanced to Inu Yasha.

"Well we are." He fixed Conn with a hard look.

Conn held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Understood." He turned to Kagome. "I thank you again for the use of your bow. I don't get to practice as much as I would like."

"Why don't you keep it during your stay? That way you can practice everyday," Kagome smiled at the big redhead.

He inclined his head. "My thanks, lady." He nodded to Inu Yasha. "I'll be off, then." And strode over to where Miroku was putting his staff through a series of intricate maneuvers.

The two of them stood in an awkward silence for a second.

"I didn't mean to make you mad last night." He said without looking at her.

"I know," she sighed. She knew it was as much of an apology as she would get. "I'll still try harder to control myself, though."

He shrugged. "It takes practice. You'll get it." He looked at the inner fort. "Well, I'm going to bathe. I think the first shifters will be here before noon."

"You mean in response to the Call?" she asked. He nodded. "Well, I better go make sure Sango is alright."

He snorted. "Sometimes I wonder how we're even related. Our mothers are sisters, but he gets the lechery from his father. I'm surprised he stopped long enough to get my aunt to marry him."

"Well, he convinced her somehow." Kagome slung her bow over her shoulder. "I'll see you later." She walked towards the nearest entrance to the keep. Inu Yasha watched her for a moment, then walked across the yard to get his friends and go to the baths.

Two hours later, having eaten and bathed, Kagome and Sango were up on the fort wall, in the same place where they first caught sight of Inu Yasha and his group.

The two women looked out onto the plain, each lost in their own thoughts when Sango noticed the dust of travel off in the distance.

"Look, more visitors." Sango pointed.

"Yes," Kagome murmured. "Inu Yasha called for help last night from any shifters in the area. He expects them all today."

"Is that what that howl was last night?" Sango asked. "I wondered. I had never heard anything like it before."

Kagome nodded. "It's even more amazing to be present."

Sango's eyes widened. "You were out here with him that late?"

Kagome gave a dry laugh. "Well, I'm stuck with him for the rest of my life. It's a little late to worry about propriety." She had explained the basics of the Bond to her best friend that morning before training.

Her friend nodded in agreement. "I suppose so." She looked at Kagome. "Have you told your father?"

Kagome grimaced, her wavy hair hiding her face. "No…"

"When are you going to? Even distracted, he will eventually notice how close you are to someone you just met yesterday."

"I know!" She jumped up and began pacing. "How do you bring up something like that?" She stopped and sighed. "I just have to figure out how, that's all."

Sango silently sympathized with her best friend, and turned back to look out over the plain. The traveler she pointed out earlier was already noticeably closer, and she could see another further behind.

"Look," she said hoping to get her friend's mind off things. "Another traveler…actually it must be a group of people."

"I see," she squinted. "Someone is coming from this way as well. The last should be here by mid afternoon, the first within the hour." She shook her head in admiration. "I can't imagine traveling at such speeds."

"Maybe you can ask your mate to carry you on his back sometime." Sango teased.

"Sango!" Kagome blushed. "Like you said, we've just met."

Sango slid off the wall. "And like you said, it's too late to worry about things like that." She brushed some dust off her breeches. "Come on, let's go to the front gate and wait there for the visitors."

"Actually, I think I'll check with Tiy and make sure our stores are sufficient for a prolonged battle. We should make sure our water supply is secure." Kagome stated.

"You're right, of course." Sango sighed. "I'll come along with you."

They made their way inside to find the woman who ran the household matters at Kieran's Pass, and who would be just as important to the coming battle as the commander himself.

Four hours later, both women were sweaty and dirty but satisfied. The water was supplied from underground sources deep in the mountain. Each section of the fort had access to its own water, so if one was compromised, there was always another available. Each was guarded like the king's vault, because even the best army can't survive without a reliable water supply. Tiy, bless her heart, had just received supplies the past week, but sent out for more after hearing of the impending attack. The Commander figured a month at the most based on what he heard personally. Scouts had already been sent from the fort to gather more information.

Sango and Kagome stopped at the water pump in the courtyard to rinse the worst of the dirt off their faces before reporting to the commander. At the door of the war room, she asked the guard if her father was available.

"Please let him know I have a report on the water supply and food stores. I can come back later if he needs me to." She had never used her status to interrupt her father's meetings…well, not in years, anyway.

The guard nodded and went in the room. A minute later the door opened and the two walked in. Along with her father, Captain Saito was there along with a few other senior officers, Inu Yasha, and another man who resembled him strongly. The most obvious difference was the ears; this man's, although pointed, were in the same position as her own, instead of atop his head like Inu Yasha's. He was handsome and had a reserved, almost regal bearing. The crescent shaped mark on his forehead and stripes on either cheek only made him seem more mysterious.

"This must be his brother," Kagome thought.

Her father motioned her over. "Kagome, Sango, let me introduce you to pack leader Sesshomaru, son of Masaharu, of the Green Valley sept of the Dog Clan. Inu Yasha's older brother. Sesshomaru, my daughter Kagome and my foster daughter Sango." The two women bowed, and he rose and bowed back.

"An honor." His voice suited him, deep and cultured. He reseated himself.

Before Kagome could stop herself, she blurted out, "Green Valley? Isn't that different from your sept, Inu Yasha?"

He answered, "Sept is determined by your mother, and we have different mothers. Since my mother was human, she was adopted into the Bright Water sept so that I would have a name."

"Oh." She blushed. "I didn't mean to offend."

"Keh. I'm not offended." He actually looked slightly amused, while his brother looked at Kagome curiously for a moment. He then inhaled sharply and raised his eyebrows at Inu Yasha. Although the two were silent, Kagome couldn't help feeling that the two had an entire conversation in the few seconds that passed.

"Forgive me for interrupting, Father. The water supply is as safe as we can make it, and with your permission we can double the guards once the battle is underway. I'm sure there will be plenty of villagers in from the surrounding area once it all begins."

He nodded. "Agreed. I cannot pull fighters from the walls, but village militiamen can handle that job quite well. And the food stores?"

"We received a new shipment last week, but Tiy has sent out for more grains and has ordered more meat to be slaughtered, salted and smoked. Also fish."

"That woman." The Commander smiled. "Sometimes I think she just lets me stay here to give me something to do while she runs the fort."

"Sometimes I wonder how she would be in the field." Kagome laughed.

"A terror. A frighteningly efficient and utterly effective terror. Just like she is now." He heaved a sigh. "Well, girls, I thank you for your efforts. I think we were just about done here, am I right, gentlemen?" He looked around the table at everyone, receiving nods of assent. "Well, then---" He broke off as a guard burst into the room.

"Commander! I think you should come out here!"

"What is it? An attack?" Naota was on his feet immediately. Now that the door was open, the commotion in the courtyard could be heard.

"No! People are yelling that there's some kind of creature out there!" The guard was painfully young, and trying to hide his fear.

The two brothers looked at each other. "Creature, eh?" Inu Yasha said.

"Maybe it is someone we know." His brother responded, with the barest hint of a humorless smile. They referred to the prejudice against shifters still found in some of the more remote areas of the Domain.

"Let's go have a look at it then." Naota strode out the door, everyone falling in place behind him.

Out in the courtyard, there was indeed a disturbance. A crowd of people was gathered around something not immediately visible. Naota began pushing his way through.

"Make way! Make way for the Commander!" A path opened up through the throng. In the middle of a healthy amount of clear space was…a woman.

She was of slightly more than moderate height, with a voluptuous build and skin the color of raw sugar. Her black hair was in a myriad of braids, interwoven with silver beads. Her large brown eyes were almond shaped, her nose rounded, and her lips full. She wore a fairly non-descript tunic and breeches, but that did not keep her from being strikingly out of place in the crowd of pointing people.

"What is the problem, here?" The commander roared, over the crowd. Everyone immediately fell silent. The women turned to him, an irritated look on her face. She looked a little over a score in age, not much older then Kagome.

"Are you in charge here, sir?" her voice was low and slightly husky.

"I am. I am Commander Naota Higurashi. What has happened to cause all this commotion?"

"My name is Nzinga, of the Storm Water sept of the Panther Clan. I came in response to the Call made last night. These…" she seemed to struggle for a suitable word, "people would not believe me and refused to grant me entry."

"She can't be human, why is her skin that color? And she leapt over the fort wall! That isn't possible!" A particularly shrill woman screamed out.

Nzinga turned a contemptuous gaze on the speaker. "I am a shape-shifter. And my skin has always been this color. I am a Kushite, and we are all much darker than you."

Naota spoke up. "This is true. I have met Kushites in my travel. They live far to the south, and need darker skin as protection against the strong sun. This makes them no less human then you or I." He turned to the woman again. "I apologize for the reception you have received at this fort. Obviously some of my people have never seen anyone from one of the black kingdoms before."

He eyed some of the younger males who looked as though her humanity was the last thing on their minds. "And the rest just act as though they have never seen a woman before." The young men blushed and dispersed under their commander's disapproving eye.

She inclined her head, but still looked wary. "I thank you, Commander."

"Now that has been settled. Everyone get back to your duties. We are preparing for an invasion and have no time for ignorant tales." The crowd slowly disbursed, many still sneaking looks at the exotic woman.

One small child walked up, and stood in front of the Kushite, looking up with solemn eyes.

She looked down and her face softened. She knelt, meeting the child at eye level. "Hello, child."

"Does the color come off your skin?" he asked.

She smiled. "No. It's just like when you get darker in the summer from all the sun. That doesn't rub off, right?"

The child's eyes brightened. "Oh, ok." He smiled. "I gotta go."

Nzinga stood. "I won't keep you then." He ran off waving.

She turned to the Inu Yasha and the others. "Who placed the Call? It was a hard run for such a welcome." Her eyes widened, first looking at Sesshomaru, then settling on Inu Yasha. "Pup?" she said incredulously.

Inu Yasha blinked at the use of his childhood name by a stranger…a stranger with a tantalizingly familiar smell. He didn't remember ever having seen this woman before, but her scent…he'd recognized it.

"You…you are Inu Yasha, right?" She asked. At his slow nod, she smiled wryly. "I guess I can't blame you for not remembering. You were only eight when I left…"

Eight? "Wait…you…" he couldn't get the words out.

"Come now, Inu Yasha," his older brother chided gently. "You can't have forgotten your sister?"