InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The next morning brought more shifters in response to the Call. Kouga, of the Wolf Clan, had expected to be there the day before, but had been delayed. Also Sasha, another Dog Clan member, arrived.

Sango immediately noticed the tension between the newcomer and the two brothers. Sasha flirted incessantly with the older brother, and treated the younger with contempt, thinly veiled behind flowery language and a show of concern.

Of course, still feeling the role of protective older sister even after a twelve-year absence, Nzinga hated her immediately. ("Nasty bitch!") Anyone who dared to treat her "Pup" in such a manner made an instant enemy. Of course, since Sasha resented the easy and close relationship she shared with Inu Yasha, the feeling was returned tenfold.

Kouga had taken one look at Kagome and declared himself to be in love, which of course did not endear him to Inu Yasha at all. Kagome did not encourage him, but in an attempt to keep the peace, tried to be as polite as possible whenever she saw him, sending reassurance to Inu Yasha all the while.

Life at the fort fell into a sort of pattern. Non-essential residents were sent to stay with relatives in the surrounding villages, while militiamen from those same villages came to supplement the number of fighters.

Kagome and Inu Yasha spent time growing accustomed to each other and the Bond. At first, he was able to shield his emotions better than she was, but she was quickly learning. Even though they grew closer, the two still managed to argue constantly, usually sparked by one of Inu Yasha's comments. Sango and Miroku alternated between looking on in exasperation, and performing their own odd courtship dance.

The steps of this dance were a grope, followed by a slap. Separate, to repeat on next meeting. More often than not, Miroku walked around with a handprint on his cheek and a smile on his lips. Sango's scowls became more and more bemused as she wondered exactly what he was trying to accomplish, and cursing herself for caring at all.

Three weeks after the shifters' arrival, the first scout came back with information on Naraku's plan. Instead of one large force, he was sending small groups of elite fighters to remote villages, burning and pillaging as they went.

Kagome and Nzinga spent a whole night consoling Sango after word reached them that her village had been attacked. There was no word of any survivors yet.

After spending two days without eating or sleeping, Sango found herself in the courtyard, striding towards the front gate. She carried nothing but Hiraikotsu and her sword.

"Sango." A voice called out. Nzinga leaped down from the wall, landing lightly next to the younger girl. "Do you actually plan on fighting that army on your own?"

She stopped. "I have to find out what happened to my family. I can't just stay behind these walls when I could be helping them."

"You can't help them." Nzinga said bluntly. "Not like you are now."

Sango stared at her in shock.

"You have neither eaten nor slept in two days. You are leaving in the middle of the night with no supplies. Even if you have the endurance to make it there, which I highly doubt, you certainly would not have the strength to help anyone." She hardened her voice. "You would only be giving them another hostage. More than one, actually."

"W-what do you mean?" Sango stammered.

"How long do you think Kagome would stay here after you left? Well, actually if she left, then so would Inu Yasha. And so would his friends. And so would I." Nzinga sighed. "Sango, you are a sworn warrior of this fort. Don't sneak off in the middle of the night. I think if you wait another day, a better solution will present itself."

"I can't abandon them!" She shouted.

"I'm not asking you to." The Kushite stated calmly. "I just want to keep you from doing something stupid. You are no help to them like this."

Sango's angry face crumpled, and tears slid down her cheeks. "How can I…how can I just stay here while they could be suffering?"

Nzinga put her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders. "Do you really think the Commander would leave those people undefended longer than he had to?"

She looked up in shock. "Of course not!" She burst out.

Then more slowly, "O-of course not…he's probably already working on a plan…my leaving would have ruined everything."

Nzinga laughed. "Not everything…but it would not have helped matters. Now let's go. You are going to sleep."

Sango laughed bitterly. "How can I? I have tried these past two days, and nothing has worked."

"I'll make you some tea. It always helps me." Nzinga gently steered Sango back into the fort.

They walked into the rooms she shared with Kagome. Kagome sat up in her bed at the noise, rubbing her eyes. Leaving her chamber, she made her way through the sitting room she shared with her foster sister and into Sango's chamber. "Sango? Nzinga? What's going on?" Lighting a lamp, she took a closer look at Sango. "Were you going to leave, Sango?"

Sango placed her weapons against a wall. "Nzinga talked some sense into me. I won't try to sneak off again."

"I'll be back with that tea," The Kushite said softly. Her own room was just down the hall, and she had plenty of teas in her supplies.

Kagome looked at her friend. She knew the news had been hard on her, but she didn't think Sango would actually leave the fort on her own. She went over and sat on the side of Sango's bed.

"You know we'll do everything we can to help you find out what happened to your family." Kagome assured her friend. "No one is so heartless as to assume you would forget them. But my father has to consider all the villages in addition to the fort. I just ask that you be patient."

Sango sighed. "I know…I just have to keep telling myself that."

Kagome remained silent for a moment. "You know you are like a sister to me. If you get to the point again when you think that you cannot wait another moment, please come tell me. Going off on your own is just too dangerous."

The door opened, and Nzinga walked in, fragrant steam rising from the mug in her hand.

"Good, you're ready for bed. Here." She handed Sango the tea. "This will help you sleep."

Sango took a sip. "This is good…what kind of tea is it?" She kept drinking.

"It's made from dried flowers and fruits. I added honey to sweeten it." She sat on the bed across from Kagome, looking Sango in the eye. "Now, you need rest. Go to sleep."

Sango's eyes drooped. "I'm not…"

"You are."

"I can't..."

"You will." Nzinga's voice had become low and soothing, almost hypnotic. She reached out, taking the mug from Sango's hands.

"…" Slumber overtook her immediately.

Kagome looked at her friend in awe. "Did you do that?"

The older woman stood up and stretched her arms above her head.

"Yes. It's a useful skill when dealing with hyperactive shifter children…or drunk men who can't take no for an answer."

"Oh." Kagome blinked. Judging by the remarks she made sometimes, Nzinga's travels had brought her in contact with some…interesting people.

"Well, I'm going to follow my own advice." She yawned, walking towards the door. "I have a feeling we'll be on the move soon enough."

Kagome nodded, knowing she was right. "Good night, then."

"Good night, Kagome."

The next morning, the Commander and his senior officers met in the war room. The silver-haired brothers were present, as was Miroku.

The Commander looked haggard. He had gotten little to no sleep since the first reports had come in from the outlying villages. Sango's father was one of his best friends, and his heart ached for both himself and the dark-haired girl.

"Thank you all for your input in the last days," he began. "As you know, I have since come to a decision regarding the recent attacks. Naraku is obviously attacking the villages to draw us out and leave the fort undefended, along with a clear route into the center of the Domain. That is obviously not an option. However, we cannot leave the rest of the villages undefended. So, we must take the fight to them." He smiled grimly. "A small group of fighters will leave the fort and harry his forces, reducing their strength before they even get to the fort."

He looked around the room. "This mission will be dangerous, to say the least. Its importance is such that I am asking for volunteers from among the recommended fighters---I will not have this mission jeopardized by unwilling members." Naota stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Captain."

"Yes, Commander," Saito responded.

"Have all the officers made their choices?"

"Yes, Commander." Saito affirmed.

"Have them all summoned to the small courtyard in one half hour."

"Understood, sir." Saito nodded to his aide, who then left the room.

The Commander ran a hand through his hair and turned to one of the pages in the room. "Ota, please bring my daughter and Sango here please." The boy saluted and ran off.

He eyed the others in the room. "Inu Yasha, Sesshomaru, Miroku. I'm sure you can guess what I'm going to ask you…"

Inu Yasha answered. "We will go."

His brother inclined his head. "I will also join this fight. And I can leave those less suited for this kind of mission here to help with defense."

"We will need every hand we can get." Naota nodded.

"What size force did you plan on sending, Commander?" Miroku asked.

"Based on the reports we have received, each village has been attacked by between twenty and thirty men. Since you will have to deal with multiple forces, I think five score is a good enough number."

"I can take a score and five of my people. Shri and her cousins excel at siege work. They would be better off here." Sesshomaru looked at Naota. "Do you approve?"

The Commander nodded. "Any other suggestions?"

Miroku looked up. "Will Sango be in the group?"

The older man looked at the monk with some surprise. "Yes. That's why I summoned her. I would rather her go out with a group than try to run off and avenge her family on her own."

Inu Yasha eyed his cousin narrowly, but for once held his tongue, if only to avoid having to explain himself to Naota. He would not pretend to be something he wasn't, but there was no need to make himself look bad in front of his mate's father.

As if his thought had summoned her, Kagome walked into the room, a half step behind Sango. The strain of the last few days still showed on Sango's face, but she no longer looked as if it might overwhelm her. He eyed Kagome to see the effect on her, and though she looked worried, she showed no signs of impending collapse. He looked up to see Miroku giving Sango a similar perusal, and for the first time Inu Yasha saw no sign of improper interest of his cousin's gaze. He was actually worried about her.

Inu Yasha shrugged. No matter. The monk couldn't stay a fucking lech forever, he supposed.

Both women listened as the Commander gave them an abbreviated version of his earlier statement. Both nodded without speaking.

"Kagome," he began.

"I'm going, Father." She stated simply.

His eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

"I understand that as my father and commanding officer you have a right to keep me here. But Sango is my foster sister, and I cannot let her bear this burden without me. Besides," here she paused, not sure how to proceed, "I…I…"

Inu Yasha cut in. "I won't leave her here. I can't protect her if she's not with me."

If possible, Naota's eyes narrowed even more. Kagome fought the overwhelming urge to avoid the piercing gaze that was currently divided between her and her mate. Inu Yasha walked over to her, not touching, but making an unmistakable statement. He stood behind her, body language screaming possessiveness for anyone to see.

"Your daughter and I have Bonded. I will not leave her behind."

Naota looked at his daughter. She was red, and the strain of meeting his gaze was evident, but she was steady. "I will not be separated from either of them, Father." This is not how I wanted to tell him, she thought sourly.

He nodded, but gave her a look that promised a longer discussion later. "Any other additions to the mission before I ask for volunteers from my own ranks?"

"Every shifter who answered the Call will fight. They understood that when they decided to respond." Sesshomaru stated. The Commander nodded.

A young officer ran into the room. "Everyone is assembled, sir. We await your convenience."

"Thank you, corporal." Naota nodded. He took one last look at his fellow fighters, and led the way to the small court, where the chosen fighters had gathered.

"You have all been chosen for a mission outside the fort. Your orders will be relayed en route to avoid any leaks to the enemy." He looked over the entire group. "There is a good chance you will not make it back…mistake me not, this is a dangerous task. You were all recommended for your skill in combat, but if you have any doubt about your ability to handle this, do not go. I will not ask you to identify yourself in front of the group. Simply do not show up at the appointed departure time, and resume your normal duties about the fort."

No one dared to look away from the man addressing them. "The rest of us will defend this fort and the route into the Domain. Pack leader Sesshomaru has assented to lead this mission."

The man in question made no sign at the mention of his name. In fact, he looked almost bored. Nzinga rolled her eyes at him from her position in the back of the group, only to find his eyes on her. She raised an eyebrow, and with no change of expression, he gave her a lazy wink. She blinked, and averted her gaze, to avoid bursting out in inappropriate laughter. It wouldn't do to laugh when Saito mentioned the Duke's son following in the steps of his forefathers.

Everyone knew the child wasn't his, so why rub it in?

She wrenched her attention back to the speaker just in time to realize that they were leaving the following evening. Fading into the background, she observed those around her as they dispersed. Some looked excited, some solemn, others thoughtful. She looked for Inu Yasha, and found him talking quietly with Miroku. Kouga decided to take advantage of his apparent inattention to approach Kagome. Across the room and with his back turned, Inu Yasha abruptly broke off his sentence.

A menacing growl cut through the low murmur of conversation in the court. Kouga kept on as if nothing was out of the ordinary as Kagome began to look panicked, and the growling grew louder.

I would panic too, Nzinga mused. She could only imagine the rage that must be searing its way through their bond. There was really no telling what he would do if Kouga didn't stop.

Kouga finally took his leave, sauntering past a livid Inu Yasha. Kagome continued to stand where she was, wide-eyed, feeling as though she had escaped a great catastrophe. Nzinga chuckled. She decided to go over and help out her younger "in-law."

"Kagome," her dark head shot up, still tense. "Let's go. Can you show me where they keep the spirits?"

"Spirits?"

"Yes. Spirits. I'm getting drunk tonight." She grabbed the girl's hand. "And so are you...and you, Sango."

Sango blinked. "Drunk? But we should prepare for the mission and…"

"We have a whole day and a half before we have to go anywhere. Besides, before a mission, it's good to relax and celebrate." She flashed a sly smile. "I'm just doing this for the two of you. It's not like I enjoy getting drunk or anything…"

"But…" the two stuttered in unison, as they were dragged from the room by their cheerfully relentless friend.