InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Kagome could not remember ever having had such a difficult time waking. She felt incredibly sluggish and groggy. By the sound of things, Inu Yasha had yet to even attempt to wake. That sounded like a good idea to her.

But something kept nagging at her, keeping her from dropping back into sleep. She could hardly be faulted for staying in bed. More troops arrived by the hour, and the road into the fort was lined with the camps of the different armies. There were plenty of fresh troops if she chose to stay in bed and regain her strength.

Kagome mentally shrugged. She could always go back to sleep later on, she supposed.

"Where are you going?" her mate muttered.

Kagome hesitated. "I just feel like I should get up." She answered. Then an idea came to her. "I want to see your mother."

Inu Yasha grunted. "My mother? Why?"

"I want to learn more about my powers. Find out if I can use them more effectively in battle."

He yawned. "All right." He sat up and threw the covers off.

She looked at him in surprise. "You don't have to come. Get some more sleep."

"Keh." He shrugged into his red tunic.

"Inu Yasha, I'm sure I'll be ok."

"Stupid girl. You couldn't even handle its emergence by yourself. What makes you think I'll let you start using it without me?" He responded.

Kagome became irritated. "I started using it without you during the first day of battle! You weren't helping me there!"

He continued to look at her. "Get dressed so we can go."

Kagome clapped her hands to the sides of her head and screamed in frustration, causing him to back up and flatten his ears against his head. "Why can't you ever just say you're worried like any normal person?"

"Why are you talking about dumb shit? Let's just go, already." He muttered.

Kagome gave in, and stood to get dressed. It's sweet that he worries, but he could be nicer about it, she thought.

She muttered and growled the entire time she got dressed. Inu Yasha smiled to himself, then cleared his throat. "That's not right. If you want to sound like an adult, it should be a little more guttural. That just sounds like a pup whining. "

She blinked, not immediately realizing what he meant.

"You've been growling at me. I didn't realize you'd picked up so much." He smiled in pride.

She blushed in pleasure, forgetting she had even been upset in the first place.

"Like this." He demonstrated. She tried again, but even she could tell it was wrong.

He burst into laughter. "You're in a good mood now…no motivation. It's ok. We'll practice more later."

Kagome beamed, and took his hand. "Let's go find your mother." She slung her bow and quiver of arrows over her other shoulder.

Malia was already awake and surprised to see them up. Her straight black hair had been pulled back into a low ponytail, and the robes of yesterday had been replaced with more practical leggings and tunic.

Once they explained their reason for coming out, she was more than happy to help.

"Just let me finish mixing this medicine, and we can begin." She measured crushed leaves into a bowl and mixed the resulting paste. Calling a young shifter female over to spoon the paste into small jars, she wiped her hands and motioned to Inu Yasha and Kagome.

"I suppose we may want to do this somewhere quiet." Malia suggested.

"Well, with the fort so crowded now…I think my room is the best option." Kagome suggested.

"I'm hungry." Inu Yasha stated. He looked expectantly from his mother to his mate. Malia gave him an amused look, then turned to Kagome.

"I'm sorry, dear, but I've spent the past twenty years feeding him. I think it's your turn."

Kagome looked at her mate. "I really want to get started…Can you just go on to the dining hall by yourself? Just meet us in our room when you're done, ok?"

"I won't be long." He told her. She watched him walk off, then turned to her mate's mother.

"Well, let's get to it."

***

Miroku also awoke thinking of the chasm that formed the day before. He decided to go out and see if Masaharu had found out anything from any of the elders.

And who was that man Nzinga risked her life to save?

Once outside, he ran into Sesshomaru.

"Is Nzinga feeling alright?" he asked.

The older man nodded. "She is still asleep…but I believe she will be fine."

Miroku nodded in response. "Have you seen your father? I want to ask him if they have learned anything about that chasm."

"I was looking for him myself. He is in one of the meeting rooms with the elders. They are apparently discussing that now."

The two men made their back into the fort and towards the room in question. Those guarding let them in without question, recognizing Sesshomaru at once. The Elders did not notice the new arrivals, being in the midst of a heated discussion.

"Impossible!" One man shouted. "You cannot tell me that all that residual energy was the result of two people. Women, at that!"

Akio was holding on to his patience by a thread. "For the last time, that is exactly what I am saying. And I am not alone in this."

One hooded figure sighed and stood. "I have had enough of this pointless, circular discussion. You berate us for having no proof, yet when we offer to furnish it, you resist. We are going to settle this once and for all." The voice was male, and had a pleasant lilt to his voice that was obvious even through the irritation.

"I agree with Padraig." Masaharu stood. "We need to settle this. These are my daughters of whom we speak, and I insist on being present. Better to have it out in the open than for anyone to try to gain proof in secret."

The babble of agreement ended abruptly when Sesshomaru's icy voice cut through it. "What proof is it that you wish to get from my mate?"

Akio looked around at the averted faces and sighed. "Sesshomaru, some of us believe that both your mate and your brother's mate are responsible for the formation of that chasm out there."

He raised an eyebrow. Whatever answer he had expected, it certainly had not been that. "And what does getting this proof entail?"

"Neither woman will be harmed, pack leader." Padraig said firmly. He lowered his hood, revealing wet looking green eyes and black hair. "All we need do is match their energy to the residual energy in the plain."

"Very well." Sesshomaru turned to leave. " I will summon her…but know this. I will have the life of any who try to harm her…and I know my brother feels the same way about his woman." Miroku right on his heels, Sesshomaru left the room.

The group ran into Inu Yasha on his way back from breakfast. Masaharu explained the situation to his younger son, who in turn asked Kagome to join him. She offered to wake up Nzinga on the way, and the men all settled down to wait in the small court.

A good quarter hour later, Kagome, Malia and Nzinga appeared in the courtyard. Kagome looked curious, not quite sure what she was doing there. Malia looked slightly wary, wondering what this council of elders would want with her new daughters during a siege. Nzinga was quickly losing the warm glow from her reunion with Inu Yasha's mother. Still understandably exhausted from the previous day, she would much rather have stayed in bed. She made no remark, but her expression was decidedly on the surly side.

Masaharu began. "Elders, these are my daughters. Kagome Higurashi, Commander Higurashi's daughter, and Nzinga, daughter of Uchenna, of the black kingdoms of Kush." Here he looked at her questioningly, unsure of her sept. She cleared her throat and added, "I am Panther Clan, Storm Water sept."

Padraig stepped forward. "And bearer of a sacred blade." He looked at her wonderingly.

Her sleepy gaze sharpened, then her eyes widened. "Greetings, Druid." She murmured respectfully.

"We must speak more later." He said to her, and she nodded. "We thank you both for agreeing to see us. We are discussing the formation of the chasm in front of us, and are at odds as to what caused it."

Nzinga interrupted. "What chasm?" Everyone looked at each other, and Akio spoke up.

"She was unconscious for much of yesterday, and after our healing session, her mate took her straight to her room for much needed rest. She has yet to see it." He turned to the woman. "Perhaps you should take a look at it before we continue."

Nzinga nodded slowly. It galled her to admit it, but she was not yet strong enough to make the leap to the front walls. Sesshomaru's arms wrapping around her waist were her only warning before they took to the air. He landed atop the inner wall, which was still high enough to give a view of the plain.

Nzinga's mouth opened slightly, and her eyebrows rose. "Well." Was all she said for a moment. Sesshomaru watched her, concerned. Her face was still too drawn, and there were shadows beneath her eyes. She turned to him with a slight smile and motioned that she was ready. He gathered her to him again and turned to leap back to the group waiting for them.

He steadied his mate upon their landing, and watched as she turned to the group of elders.

Padraig spoke first. "Kagome claims to know nothing of its formation. So that leaves us with you, pack mother."

Nzinga drew in a deep breath. "Well, I would not expect her to know…even I didn't know the effects of my actions. I did this without her knowledge."

Murmurs began among the elders. The man who originally disbelieved that either woman was involved at all sneered, "You took her power without her knowledge or permission?"

Zi lip curled in disdain. "No. That is not what I said. There was still residual power from Kagome's blasts into Naraku's forces present on the field. I drew on it to augment my own power. Otherwise, it would have killed me." She heard a stifled noise from Sesshomaru.

"What made you do such a thing?" Masaharu asked, slightly pale himself.

She was quiet for a moment. "Those things out there…they are unnatural. They should not be. Their existence is an affront to nature and their touch violates the earth."

"How is it that you were surprised by the chasm's appearance?" Padraig asked.

She sighed. "After Sango took Faolan to safety, Scathach instructed me to send as much of my force into the earth as possible, and the earth itself would take care of the rest." She smiled faintly. "She's a pushy bitch, but she's never been wrong." Padraig nodded slowly. "I didn't know what effect it would have…I passed out after doing it. I suppose it's a good thing Kagome hasn't learned to focus her energy. As it is, there was enough diffused on parts of the field to make this possible.

She looked at Padraig. "You must feel something is wrong…you and the other druids."

Another figure stepped forward. His lowered hood revealed dark blue eyes and dark golden hair. "It is as you say. I have felt uneasy as we approached this place, but could not pinpoint the reason."

"Then I suggest that you and the other druids take a trip up to the walls and see what we're facing." Nzinga shivered in spite of herself. "Those…things…" She squeezed her eyes shut, and tried again. "Those fucking things…I've never seen anything like them."

Sesshomaru eyed his mate in concern. "Elders…my mate is exhausted."

The blond druid bowed his head. "Our apologies, pack leader." He turned to the two women. "My ladies, I am Dylan, son of Owen. I need a sample of your energy to compare with that on the plain."

Kagome's brow creased slightly. Malia placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You have already done it during battle." She said soothingly. "Now instead of throwing the floodgates open, just let it trickle out." Kagome concentrated, and felt spirit begin to seep from her. Malia drew an arrow from Kagome's quiver and pressed it into her hand.

"Now, release it into the arrow. Not too much, or it will dissolve. Just enough so Dylan can sense it." Kagome released as her mate's mother bade her, and opened her eyes. The arrow in her hand glowed softly, different from the purifying flame that she used to rip through Naraku's host.

Dylan held his hand over the arrow, just out of contact. He let the light of his own gift lightly touch the arrow's glow, enabling him to sense and identify Kagome's unique energy. As the arrow crumbled in her hand, Dylan sighed and gave her a deep bow.

"My lady," he said respectfully. "It is indeed an honor to meet someone with such extraordinary purity and strength of spirit." Kagome could only nod in response, her mouth slightly open in surprise.

He then turned to Nzinga. Not bothering to wait for his request, she summoned her gift. A glow leapt to her fingertips, and she extended it to the druid. Unlike Kagome's soothing pale radiance, Zi's gift shone a deeper reddish-orange color. Dylan once again lightly used his gift to identify her own, and at his nod, Nzinga extinguished the small flare of power.

"We thank you, my ladies. I can now identify your gifts, and we will be able to gather the evidence we need." It was obviously a dismissal, and Kagome turned to leave.

Nzinga was having none of it. "When I leave here, I am going back to sleep. And I will not be woken for anything short of another attack. So if you think you will need me again after you finish your experiment, then I ask that you tell me now."

Akio and Padraig smiled, while Dylan blinked and the others murmured. "This will not take long. Why don't we all make our way to the front wall and settle this once and for all?" The shifter elder suggested.

Inu Yasha looked at Kagome with a small grin before offering her his back. With a blinding smile, she hopped on and the two leapt for the fort wall. Her excited scream brought smiles to those still on the ground.

Sesshomaru was about to grab his mate and follow his brother when he heard Zi give a nearly silent whimper. This short meeting had drained her more than she thought possible. Oblivious to anyone watching, she buried her face in his chest and fisted her hands in the front of his tunic. Alarmed, he gently rubbed her back and began a low rumble in his chest.

*I'm so…I'm so tired…* she sent. She could feel a sob beginning to burn in her chest and she hated herself for it.

"They have ten minutes." He told her.

Zi nodded, loosening her grip on him. Not wanting to meet anyone else's gaze, she said heavily, "Let's go then." Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around her waist and leaped into the air. Once they landed, he kept both arms around her for support.

The entire party looked out over the plain and chasm. The rest of Naraku's army had joined what remained of the vanguard, but they had yet to find a way to bridge the lava that stood between them and their goal.

"Naraku clearly does not ride at the head of his forces." Masaharu stated, landing with Malia. "But then again, he had never been that kind of fighter. He skulks, preferring to let others do his work for him."

"He is likely somewhere in the middle then." A previously silent elder spoke up. He was a wizened old black man, dressed in colorful robes. He held a beautifully carved wooden staff, and had his eye on Nzinga as she fought to stay awake.

"Have you done what you needed?" Sesshomaru said abruptly.

"Almost, pack leader. Please, it will not be much longer." The old man spoke.

Inu Yasha looked over. The blond druid was concentrating, his eyes closed. Once again, he used his gift to sense the residual energy from the formation of the chasm. Opening his eyes, Dylan looked over the group. "My findings support Lady Nzinga's story. She sent an enormous amount of earth, fire and spirit energy into the ground. Most of it was hers, and the rest was from Lady Kagome.

"The energy did not create the chasm or the lava. Apparently, there is a river of lava well below the surface, and the force sent into the ground acted as a catalyst to raise it to ground level. This resulted in the chasm we see before us."

Inu Yasha grunted, then snaked an arm around Kagome's waist. "Well, you've gotten your answers." He turned, clearly ready to leave.

Nzinga kept watching the army. Occasionally, one of Naraku's creatures would get too close and be burnt to a crisp, but for the most part, they stayed well away from it. She frowned. She had put too much of herself into that thing for it not to be killing more of the enemy than it had. She would need to think of a way to put that lava to better use…later. Right now, she wanted nothing more than sleep.

Sesshomaru shifted his grip, moving his mate to grasp her in one arm in preparation to leave. He looked at Masaharu. "By your leave, Father." The tone of his voice made it clear they were leaving regardless.

Inu Yasha blushed slightly. "By your leave, Father." He muttered. Protocol had never been his strong suit.

Their father nodded to them both, then watched as his youngest son departed, flying through the air with seemingly no effort. Kagome kept her excited whoop to herself, not wanting to disturb the formal mood.

"Pack leader." The black man spoke again. "Might I ask one last question of your mate?"

Zi looked over, long-ingrained behavior refusing to let her deny an elder. "How may I help you, Elder?" she said wearily.

"It is a simple question, but please humor an old man's curiosity." He ignored the jostling around him as the rest of the group dispersed. "You have the look of the western tribes, but an eastern name."

She smiled slightly. "My mother is of the west. She traveled in her youth, and I am named for someone she met along the way."

He smiled back, gently. He pressed his fingers lightly to her forehead, murmuring, "I thank you, Mwanadongo…take your rest." Turning, he walked away.

Sesshomaru wasted no time getting his mate back to her chamber. As he laid her in her bed, he asked, "What was that he called you at the end?"

She had been silent long enough to make him think her asleep when she finally answered. "Mwanadongo. It's an eastern name that means 'child of the earth.'" Rolling to her side, she quickly dropped into deep slumber.

He regarded her a moment, torn between duty to pack and Clan and duty to his mate.

*Father.* He sent.

*Yes, Sesshomaru?*

*Do you have need of me at present?*

Masaharu paused, then answered gently. *Not at present. I will call you if that changes.* Then in a lighter tone, *She'll be hungry when she wakes. Get her some food.*

Relieved at finally having a way to help his mate, he left for the kitchens. As much as she ate normally, if he didn't have something ready upon her awakening, she might well gnaw off his arm.