InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twist of Fate ❯ The Youngest Daughter ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Three: The Youngest Daughter

Story: Twist Of Fate

By: Sky

Kagome sat in the upper branches of a tree, twitching her black dog ears back and forth in a searching manner, and her tail perfectly still against her body. She wore a fur rap (much like Ayame's) in the same ebony color of her hair, and had leg wraps to match to protect her legs when she climbed trees, or when she was running through sharp grasses. She also wore lower arm guards to protect her arms for the same reasons. Most of the time, she had her hair flowing around her shoulders, with two cute black ears on top of her head. Her eyes were a very pretty silver that had many males trying for her. Of course, since she was still at a young age, her father ran off all males who wished to be potential suitors. She was his prize, and he wasn't going to loose her too soon.

Kagome looked down at the silver kitsune three trees away at the base. The older fox had thought that she had heard something, and had gone to investigate, telling Kagome to stay where she was. Of course, Kagome didn't intend to stay put, and knew Karamina wouldn't punish her too badly for this one. As it was, what could happen anyway? This was her fathers portion of the Silver Clan's lands, and he always tried to keep it clear of threats for his wondering daughter. He had laughed the first time that she had disappeared and come back with prey in her mouth (it was a field mouse, but prey none-the-less), and decided that unlike his eldest son, he would start her training early.

Her father had contacted the clan, letting them know of his daughters wonderings, and if there was someone who would like to take her training into their paws. The great InuTaisho was surprised when it wasn't just one of the older kitsune that answered his call, but Karamina, one of a pawful of the eldest kitsunes to ever live. This was a great honor to he and his family, and he had told her that he hopped his daughter did not disappoint her, or do something to ruin this blessing. Karamina had only chuckled and had told him that they would both learn a thing or two from this.

Kagome pondered for a moment on what she knew of the clan. They owned all the lands on this island away from the continent. However, they had raised four demons that they trusted to lords to rule the four providences of the island. Though, the clan still kept close watch on them all to make sure that they did not become power hungry and wish to claim the lands as their own instead of being stewards of each. Other then settling some major disputes, or those who sat in the demon lords palaces every day, or the extra ones who attended courts sometimes, the Silver Clan was not seen around much. They were rumored to live in the mountains, or in the western land, but no one knew for certain quite where the clan lived. And most individuals surprisingly didn't care. A few of the offspring of lords, or even some common workers, had the privilege of one of the Silver Clan members training them in their skills. Kagome and her older brother Sesshomaru, seemed to be a few of those very lucky individuals. Nothing else was really known about the clansmen.

Of course, they were very distinctive, Kagome mused, watching the silver kitsune sniff around. They all had silver pelts of various shadings, and blue eyes of the same varying shades. And most creatures never saw them in their human-looking form. Most of the time, the kitsunes traveled around at about the size of a pony, but could increase their size so that they were bigger than most things. In fact, she had seen a silver kitsune reach the size of her own brother, and surpass him to almost reach the size of her father. That had been great fun to watch, until they discovered her and sent her to her room with guards enough to make sure she stayed there. Kagome had sulked a bit at the loss of such entertainment, but then went back to her normal playing.

The silver kitsune then raised her head in Kagome's direction, and Kagome tensed.

"I thought you were supposed to stay where you were," came an irritated voice from the kitsune.

"I wanted to see what you were doing. How am I supposed to learn if you never let me see what you are doing?" Kagome stated as she stayed perfectly still where she was. Karamina had taught her that lesson at the very beginning; even if someone knows you're there, it doesn't mean they know where you are; so didn't just give yourself away by jumping down.

"There could have been danger or a trap ahead. Then where would we be?"

"There is no danger on this land," she answered confidently. "My father wouldn't allow it."

"Tsk tsk pup. There is danger everywhere, even in your fathers lands. The farther you get from the palace, the more you will see that." Karamina then turned her head and looked Kagome right in the eye. "I'm glad you remembered one of your previous lessons." Kagome's heart sunk.

"Which one did I forget?"

"Masking your scent and at least a margin of your demonic aura." Kagome crinkled her nose at the thought that she could have forgotten those two basics that Karamina had drilled into her time and again before even taking her farther into the forest away from the palace.

"I'm sorry Karamina. I'll remember better next time." Her eyes turned downcast, ashamed at her actions. Karamina gave a pleased growl, and then turned her back to the tree.

"Well, since you're here, you might as well learn something. Hop down." Kagome did as she was told, and landed neatly by her mentor. Then she happened to take a good deep smell of the area around.

"Yuck," she replied, wrinkling her sensitive nose again, and placing her hand over it.

"What's it smell like?" questioned Karamina.

"Centipede gore," Kagome said, finally noticing the remains strewn on the other side of the clearing. There was also something else in this clearing. "Is that a well?"

"Very good. Welcome Kagome to the Bone Eaters Well." The silver kitsune then padded silently towards it, her nose working along with her ears to pick up information about what happened in the clearing. "This was our destination for today."

"A good distance from the palace I would say." Kagome still had her hand over her nose, and looked towards a pair of arms on the ground by the well. "Hey look. Those arms look cut."

"That they do Kagome. Good job." Karamina settled back on her back legs by the well, and watched. "Now, tell me what else you see, smell, hear, and sense." Kagome turned to look at her teacher, then walked over near the arms and knelt down.

"Well, the cut is clean on the arm wounds, symbolizing that it wasn't a demon that attacked this one, unless the demon had blades on it."

"And what would make you say that?"

"Claws and teeth tear the flesh a certain way, making the wound edges ragged. These are clean cuts, meaning there was a blade involved, which leads to it either being a demon with blades, or maybe a villager that had a lucky shot. And there are also no downed trees or claw marks in the ground indicating a demonic fight."

"Ah, but many of the village people don't have well sharpened blades, like what made this cut. And do you smell any villagers here from that village we passed?" Kagome took a sniff of the air, and had to shake her head.

"No, I don't smell any villagers. And since there are birds still chirping and no fresh demon smells in or around the clearing, there are no demons around who could have or did this or are going to eat the remains yet. But there is human smells, with some strange smells on them that I don't recognize."

"Me neither pup. At least on one of them. The other though, has a distinctive scent to it that I recognize, and you should learn."

"What is it?"

"It's the smell of an Exterminator."