InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpeced Allies Part III: Trial of the Century ❯ When a General Becomes A Friend ( Chapter 4 )

{Disclaimer: Anyone who's read this from chapter one of part one knows this already, so…}

Chapter Four:

When a General Becomes a Friend

Kagome woke up in the middle of the night with a heavy feeling of foreboding. She, Shorin and Keni'Chi were at the base of the mountains in two days time, the jewel shard getting closer and closer the closer they got to the mountain. When they reached the base, one of the jewel shards stopped moving, so the decision was made to camp there for the rest of the night.

Kagome stood up and stretched lazily, yawning lightly. She looked up and spied Keni'Chi in the tree above, keeping watch.

"I'm going to the stream, ok?"

"Of course. Would you like me to join you?"

Kagome shook her head. "No thanks. I'll only be there for a minute."

"Of course, my lady. Call if you need me."

Kagome turned and walked to the stream, humming lightly and listening to the noises around her. She sighed as she reached the riverbank, taking off her shoes. She crotched at the water's edge, looking at her reflection.

'First Inuyasha, then Sesshoumaru. God Kago, can't you at least fall for a decent youkai, instead of the two most temperamental, arrogant, double-crossing youkai on the planet.' Kagome sighed as she dipped her fingers in the water, watching the ripples move to the other side of the stream. 'Maybe Sesshoumaru has good reason for taking the arm from Naraku. After all, Kenrious really didn't give him leave to say anything else.' Kagome smiled and flicked aside a stray hair. 'I guess I should let him explain. Sesshoumaru explain? Yeah right, and I'll sprout wings and fly.'

As Kagome stood up to take off her clothes, a furry hand shot out of the water, grabbed her by her ponytail and dragged her under. Kagome barely had time to take a breath before she went into the water, the being behind her pulling her deeper. Kagome fought back, elbowing the creature in the face. It hissed at her and she hit it again, this time managing to get free enough to see its face. The color instantly drained from hers.

'Oh crap…it's a kappa!'

Kagome fought harder, the creature's hold loosening until she was finally free. She swam to the surface, gasping for air. Suddenly the kappa grabbed her by her waist and yanked her back down. Kagome struggled again, but this time she was tired and cold from the exposure. She kicked and punched the creature; her blows becoming weaker over time.

All of a sudden a hand wrapped around her wrist and jerked her out of the water and onto the riverbank. Kagome gagged and spit up water furiously, sucking up the much appreciated oxygen. She turned back to the stream's edge and found the kappa dead beside Keni'Chi, who at the time was busy cleaning his claws in the water. He turned to Kagome and shook his hands dry.

"My lady, are you ok?" he asked as he helped her to stand. Kagome nodded, untying the ponytail and wringing the water out of her hair. "Yeah, thanks to you."

"Its my pleasure."

Shorin ran up to them, holding a dry set of clothes in her hands. "Lady Kagome, are you alright?"

Kagome nodded again as Shorin handed her the clothes. She and Keni'Chi turned around as Kagome dried and changed into the black pair of loose pants and the black knit sweater. When she gave the signal for them to turn around, Keni'Chi handed her something.

"I believe this is why he attacked you, my lady," he said as he handed her a jewel shard.

Kagome gawked. "Wow, thanks! I thought the jewel shard stopped! I guess he had it, huh?"

"That's right, Lady Kagome."

"I've had enough of that!" Kagome scolded. Keni'Chi and Shorin looked at her curiously. "Enough of what, Lady Miko?"

"The 'my lady' stuff. You guys are my friends, and friends don't call each other 'my lady'!"

Shorin stuttered in her confusion. "B-but my lady, L-lord Sesshoumaru said to call you that!"

Kagome brushed that aside. "That was before we knew each other. Are you helping me because Sesshoumaru said to?"

"No!"

"Why then?"

"Um," Shorin muttered, staring at her feet. "Because I wanted to."

"Well then, that's settled. If you call me anything other than 'Kagome' again, you'll go back to the council and wait for my return, is that clear?"

Shorin bowed "Yes my l-I mean Kagome."

Kagome smiled and turned to Keni'Chi. "Now for you. Why do you call me lady?"

"Because you deserve the title."

Kagome smiled again as she sat down, motioning for Shorin and Keni'Chi to be seated beside her. "I'm sure I do, but you don't have to. You don't have to come with us either."

"I know that, Kagome-"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I know I don't have to help, but you just don't realize how dangerous Naraku is. He's cunning."

"Why were you and your brother with him, if you don't mind my asking," Kagome asked.

Keni'Chi sighed and stretched across the grass. "It's a long story and I wouldn't want to bore you two."

"It's no bore, right Shorin?" Kagome said. Shorin shrugged and laid down. "No. I would like to know as well."

"Alright, if you say so. I am the eldest of three. My brother and I were twins, with a younger sister. Our mother died 45 years ago, leaving my father with a kingdom to run and three cubs to raise. Our lands were at war at the time, and my father needed help."

"Who's your father?" Shorin asked.

"The Taiyoukai of the Southern Islands."

"Your father is the taiyoukai of the Southern Islands?" Shorin yelped, sitting up straight.

"What's the big deal?" Kagome asked.

Shorin shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe it. The Southern Islands are the next most powerful region, behind the Western Lands, of course."

Keni'Chi gave a dry laugh. "If only we asked for the west's help. My brother and I decided to seek out the Shikon no Tama instead. We heard Naraku had possession of it and went in search of him. We joined him with the promise that he would help our father once he received the jewel. We agreed to help him."

He glanced at Kagome desperately, holding her hand in his. "You must understand! We didn't think about how many people would be hurt or killed! We only wanted to help our father, but the longer we stayed in Naraku's army, the longer we became like him!"

He let go of Kagome and gazed down into his lap, his voice fading to a whisper. "We became like him.

"The darkness in our souls festered in his service until we barely recognized ourselves. We readily kidnapped you because Naraku said that it would get us closer to the jewel, since you had half. When we reached you and found it on you, we attacked. We didn't care about your pup or anything but getting you to Naraku. When Naraku attacked me in front of you, I decided then that it was time to go home. Naraku only used us, and my brother paid for my stupidity. When Shorin found me, I figured I'd help Sesshoumaru get the little girl, not knowing that you belonged to him as well."

"I don't belong to Sesshoumaru," Kagome huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Shorin shrugged and Keni'Chi continued.

"As the houshi and the exterminator talked about you, I came to want to know more. Your pup told me all about you, how you helped him avenge his parents against the Thunder Brothers, how you protect him in battle, how he considered you like a mom. He even told me about your relationship with Inuyasha and how he constantly screwed it up. You always forgave him, no matter what he did.

"It gave me hope and I felt for the first time in a long time a touch of good. When I saw you fighting Naraku's army in the field, trying to protect that little girl, I instantly regretted trying to snuff someone with such spirit out of the world. I decided then that I would help you defeat the hanyou at all costs. That's why I call you 'my lady', because I'm beneath you.

"You forgive easily and everything you touch turns to light. I would give my life for you, and protect you with my last breath. I just hope you find it in your heart to shine a little light on me."

Kagome listened with tears in her eyes as he sighed. He turned to her nervously. "Sorry, Kagome. I know you said not to call you that."

Kagome reached over and hugged him, her arms thrown behind his head. Keni'Chi stared in amazement, then hugged her back as she whispered "Oh Keni'Chi! I forgive you! You don't have a thing to worry about!"

Keni'Chi smiled against her shoulder. "No wonder Lord Sesshoumaru is so protective of you."

Kagome sat back with a jerk. "Huh?"

"Never mind. Can I still be your general?"

"Sure!"

"Thank you, Kagome."

"No problem. Now for you, Shorin."

"Are you always so nosy?"

Kagome sat back, shocked. "Are you always so rude?"

Shorin smiled and crossed her arms behind her head for a pillow. "Only to my friends."

Kagome smiled. "Then that's ok then! Now really, how long have you been with Sesshoumaru?"

"Most of my life. We grew up together."

"Really?" Kagome said with a gasp. "What was he like?"

"A lot like you, if you can believe it. He was bright, happy pup and constantly clung to his mother. We teased him mercilessly about it, but he ignored us. He used to say 'It's a prince's duty to protect his mother.' Yeah right. Protect. Who was he kidding?"

Shorin laughed, her merriment floating on the late night air. "He and his mother were the practical jokers of the family. I remember one royal ball where Lord Sesshoumaru and his mother put sake in the punch. I've never seen anything so funny! There were lords stumbling everywhere and ladies fainting! One lord, I believe the lord of the East, marked Lord InuTaisho's curtains in the royal hall! The most beautiful pea green silk, ruined! Lord InuTaisho was so angry!"

Shorin fell into giggles, Kagome and Keni'Chi laughing with her at the thought of so many royals behaving so strangely. Shorin gasped for air as Kagome calmed down.

"What made Sesshoumaru change?" she asked. Shorin's face went serious instantly, and for a moment Kagome thought Shorin was going to cry.

"His mother died."

"Oh," Kagome whispered. Shorin stood up, watching the distance as the sun rose over the horizon. She reached down for Kagome's old clothes and started back to camp. Keni'Chi shrugged at Kagome's questioning glance and helped her to her feet.

"Come on Kagome," he said as he brushed himself off. "We must hurry. We only have a few more paces to go before we're at the mountain."

Kagome nodded and placed the shikon shard into the vial necklace with a clink, then followed Keni'Chi back to camp.

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SF: This is why I didn't post the preview for the this chapter. Don't you guys love me!

Kagome: You're the greatest SF!

SF: Thanks a lot! I figured 'Why not post it a little early? So what if Chapter 20 isn't finished and Silver Fox hasn't even started on 21?'

Inu cast: WHAT?!!!!!!!

Inu-chan: Just what the fuck have you been doing?

Sango: You were supposed to finish Chapter 20 before you started this fic!

Kagome: SF! You have some explaining to do!

SF: Hey! Why is everyone bitching at me? Silver Fox hasn't even started his chapter, and you guys are having a conniption fit about four missing paragraphs!

Kagome: But he didn't come up with this fic! You did!

SF: Correction, the Little Muse did.

Kagome: Whatever.

Inu-chan: Answer my question! What have you been doing?

SF: Well, I was working on it, but I got sidetracked…

Sesshou: By…

SF: Gundam Eq, Nothing Cold, Butterfly, and Second Chance to name a few. Not to mention Of Gods on fiction press.

Inu-chan: You are totally worthless-

>Zap!<

SF: Piss off Inu-chan. Anyway, the recommendation is coming Monday, when we'll have our regularly scheduled update. The preview is below.

Chapter Five:

The Lady In the Cage

Kagome traced it, then read the words on the golden sheet beside it.

She who can set me free

Wields the Weapon of Three

Kagome blinked. "What does that mean?" she asked out loud as Keni'Chi stepped in the room.

"Shorin said to tell you she's cleaning up the m….woah."