InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Walk of Destiny ❯ Barking Dogs ( Chapter 8 )

~ Inuyasha shall never be mine even if I beg on bended knees. Of course, I shall forever cherish Walk of Destiny & Choice of Destiny because they were always mine! ~

Walk of Destiny

By Rochelle Cassel

Edited by Kelli G

Chapter 8 ~ Barking Dogs

Immediately her gaze fell on the bow, discarded twenty feet away. Kagome nervously licked her dry lips, then turned to stare at the demon noble.

'He's back.'

His predatory eyes were fixed, all attention on her. Kagome discreetly slid her heel backwards. 'What do I do? What if my powers fail me again?'

"What do you want?" she forced out, fear shaking her entire body.

He refused to answer, instead locking her down with his frightening, blank gaze. The stretching silence festered into tight static. Her hands began to itch for something to hold. She needed a weapon.

'Inuyasha?! Wasn't he out guarding the border? How could he have missed his older brother's trespassing?'

"What do you want?" she demanded again, shoving every ounce of energy into her voice in hopes of faking courage. Did he hear her bones rattling?

'If I scream surely the others inside would hear me.... but could they reach me in time?'

His amber eyes narrowed, appearing to size her up.

The ticking seconds began to gnaw away at her jittered nerves. His calm and calculating behavior was irritating. She was falling apart in front of him and he barely batted an eye, as if her response was only natural.

Her entire skin became electrified when she saw his lips smirk. 'I'm not some cat you can scare away.'

Glaring back, she stood tall and mirrored his unyielding stance. She could play his game, too.

The air was stiff, like a bowstring, pulling tighter as the two waited.

'One of us has to do something.'

Clenching her fists, the miko resolved to let him make the first move. What other creative response did she have?

Fortunately for her waning nerves, he reacted. Of course, his reaction was far from what she had expected.

Kagome jerked backwards as his deep, rumbling laugh echoed in her ears. The cold laughter was like water being dumped on her head. 'What th-?'

"Even after last time, you refuse to back down," he replied evenly. "Foolish human."

Hiding the tremble in her knees, the girl sneered. "Some would say I was brave."

He didn't waver. "Not I."

Unnerved, Kagome bounced on her toes. "So, are we going to stare at each other all night, or will you answer me: what do you want?"

His cold eyes easily read her distinctive anxiety, and gradually his lips turned up into a sneer. "I was right to believe you were no threat. You're trembling."

"Stop playing with me," the miko snapped. She was tired of this. Kagome took a defensive stance, hands raised with palms flat. "If you're going to fight, then come on!"

It was a foolish challenge, but he found the move intriguing. He silently watched her again, following the trails of her sweat with his golden eyes. The frail human had stubborn blood, much like his mongrel brother, except she did not fall prey to it. Instead of flying blindly at her opponent, she channeled her fury into calculated strategy.

Though he should be wary of such a clever mind,her mortal stench easily overran his concerns.

He stared down his pointed nose at her. "You shall watch my ward for me."

The miko's brow pinched together. "What?"

Her brown eyes unconsciously lowered to the small figure slipping out of the demon's shadow. Kagome's guard automatically dropped upon sight of the young child.

Rin offered a strained smile. "Good evening, Lady Kagome."

'What is this?' Kagome glanced at the child's guardian.Sesshoumaru ignored her obvious question, and stared pointedly at the miko. She focused again on the child.

Without request, Rin began to walk towards the miko, a chalky bundle held protectivelyagainst her chest. Kagome peeked again at the dog demon, well aware of his towering presence. 'What is going on?'

As the girl in the yellow kimono drew closer, the miko gradually sank to her knees, arms out in a welcoming shelter. Rin stopped just inches from the woman's fingers, and took a moment to look back at her lord. Kagome waited awkwardly with arms still out-stretched, and the demon nodded.

Reluctantly, the girl took the last few steps, dropping her bag and burying her face into the priestess's neck. The onslaught of tears soaking into her collar surprised the miko. "Rin?"

"I'm sorry!" Her tiny hands clutched at her loose shirt. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to come."

Kagome studied the demon lord over the girl's shoulder. "Why are you doing this?"

His shallow eyes drifted, absorbing the shuddering sobs of his ward. "I can no longer protect her."

"What?" Kagome gasped. "What are you talking about? Sesshoumaru, how could you possibly not protect her?"

Naturally, his blank stare slipped over, covering his concern. She stared up into his gold orbs, trying to steal away the emotions he effortlessly hid. His years of practice, however, revealed only a thick curtain.

All she would learn was what he was willing to expose. "My title shall kill her."

The alarming words caused the miko to clutch the child tightly. "How?"

He shook his head, again his focus on the child. "It is not your concern."

"Not my concern?!" Kagome hissed, rubbing Rin's back. "You bring her to me, claim her life is endangered, and refuse to say more? Darn you, Sesshoumaru, what's going on?"

"You hold no room to demand from me," he snapped, raisinghis voice a fraction louder. "I spared you."

She glared. "You spared me so you could hold it over my head?"

His coat bristled.

"It is a fatal mistake to assume I would manipulate you in a fashion fitting Naraku," he snarled, fangs flashing dangerously. The gleam of the moonlight along his sharp rowsof teethsent a quiver through the miko, but she hid it well with a frown.

"Then explain to me otherwise," she ordered. Pulling back to her feet, the miko quickly put herself between him and the girl. She didn't believe he would ever harm Rin, but having a child between herself and a demon, like some shield, didn't set right with her.

Kagome mustered her courage, and took a threatening step forward. "Hurry up and talk, Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha will catch your scent sooner or later."

'I pray he does.'

Of course, the demon didn't lose his calm edge. As she had guessed, he was prepared. "He's busy at the moment trailing Jaken through the forest. He probably won't realize he's been played with for a few more minutes. By then I'll be gone."

Relief flooded her, giving her room to breath normally. 'That means he's definitely just here to drop off Rin and leave.'

The miko shook her head. 'But why, Sesshoumaru?'

He gave the child another half stare, his eyes becoming a richer gold. "Until I return for her, keep Rin as your pup."

'Huh?' Kagome went stiff. He wanted her to protect Rin?

Personally, she wanted to take Rin out of the demon's dangerous shadow. Even if Sesshoumaru would never bring a hand against Rin, sooner or later his enemies would.

Maybe it was better that shedid protect the child.

Nodding in defeat, the miko sighed. "I'd be happy to take care of her for you, Sesshoumaru, but how long will she be in my care?"

'I'm not thrilled about this, but it's better than fighting him.'

Sesshoumaru was already exiting the yard, ending the conversation with his usual mysterious ease. "As long as I choose."

Not caring for a response, the demon lord exited into the shelter of darkness and disappeared from all view, leaving the yard feeling strangely empty.

"Glad I was up for this," Kagome mumbled sarcastically.

"Are you mad at me?" The small question turned the miko around to find Rin staring glumly at her dirty bare feet. Kagome hurried to her knees, rubbing the girl's pink cheeks free of tears.

"Shh," the woman whispered, using her white sleeve as a tissue. "It's alright. I'm not mad."

Rin sniveled and tentatively stared up through her ebony bangs. "Really?"

How could one ever be mad at such a beautiful face?

"No, of course I'm not mad." Kagome's grin quickly smoothed away the hitch in the youngster's heart.

Rin's face lit up, becoming as bright as her yellow and pink kimono. "I'm glad. I didn't want you to think that I didn't like you. I just didn't want to leave Lord Sesshoumaru."

Her smile brought a fresh idea to Kagome's mind. She leaned towards the girl, searching her young eyes. "Rin, do you know why Sesshoumaru left you in my care?"

The child momentarily glanced behind the woman, searching for her lost guardian. She obviously still wished for him. "I don't know. He wouldn't tell me much."

'Still, he must have said something to you.'

"What did he tell you, Rin?" the miko insisted. "Please tell me."

"Well…," the twelve-year-old drawled while twirling a dark lock of hair. "He said something…about um…it getting dangerous…said if they found me with him, they would take me away."

The miko's face soured. "They?"

'All I remember him ever saying during our fight was 'she.' Now there's a 'they?'

"Yep," Rin chirped quietly. "Said it was better I come with you, because I belonged with humans."

"Humans," the miko repeated. "Must be other demons causing him problems."

The girl shrugged and left the miko to pick up her discarded bundle. Her thin arms wrapped around the gray sack, hugging the only property she owned, several kimono dresses.

'Well, not much else to do but go to bed.' Offering her hand to the girl, Kagome stood. "Let's head inside. It's late and we need some sle-"

THUMP.

Their eyes snapped directly onto the ruffled hanyou. His gold eyes darted side to side as he snarled threateningly. "Are you okay, Kagome?Where's his ugly face at?!"

Kagome relaxed. Sesshoumaru hadn't returned. "He's gone, Inuyasha. He left a few minutes ago."

For several moments, his guard didn't lower as his nose continued to sniff the familiar odor. Finally accepting that his scent was old, the hanyou tucked away his fangs. "Are you sure? I was itching to humiliate him."

"Sure, Inuyasha," she mumbled wearily. Even with so many years on his life, the dog was stillan arrogant puppy. "I'm going to put Rin to bed. It's time for both of us to get some sleep."

The hanyou automatically switched his focus. "Rin? What's she doing here?!"

______________________________

Kagome quietly tugged the edge of the blanket, pulling it out to full spread. The girl was already asleep, her small body taking up only a corner of the large mat. The miko smiled and tenderly pushed the girl's black bangs away from her flushed face. 'I could get used to tucking a child intosleep.'

The miko glanced to the side, checking over the full room. No one appeared to have been disturbed from his or her usual order. Kohaku was strategically between Miroku and Sango, while Shippo and Kilala shared a mat. Each face held a contented, unconcerned look.

'Everyone seems to be oblivious to what happened outside. That's good. They need their rest, anyway.'

"Kagome," he called to her, quietly. The miko knowingly stood, her eyes lingering on the new addition. With practiced stealth, Kagome crossed the room.

She happily stepped under his out-stretchedarm as he held the paper door for her, and together the two plopped down next to the smoldering pit fire. Kagome poked at the red coals, tossing up yellow sparks. 'Man, I need to get some sleep soon.'

"What happened?" His concern was velvet to her ears.

"Nothing," she insisted, for the fourth time. "He came, he left Rin. There's not much else from what I already told you, Inuyasha."

His face twitched. "But it doesn't make sense! He's never had a problem taking care of the girl before."

"Something must have changed things, then," Kagome mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked, acknowledging the weariness in her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied. She didn't want him to send her away. Suddenly, sleep didn't seem so important.

He studied her, not convinced. Kagome forced a brilliant smile. 'Just a little longer.'

His ears flattened with a shrug. "Feh."

The strain in her smile shrunk,and a sparkle fluttered in her brown eyes. 'Let me stay here with you.'

Several yellow tongues flew out of the coals, sending a quiver of light out over the two attendants. She inhaled deeply, enjoying his musky scent mingling with the ash, full and earthy. It surrounded her, pushing out the annoying urge for sleep.

'How can the very smell of you make me so happy?'

She slowly ran her arms over herred pant legs. 'Is it the same for you? Does my presence make you happy? When you're alone, do you think of me?'

Her stomach rolled over, urging alongthe desire to see the face that was connected to the heady smell. His gold pits gazed back at her, commanding her not tolook away.

They stared at each other, barely aware of the cinders smoldering out. Her tongue darted out over her suddenly dry lips. 'Do you love me as much as her?'

Kagome winced inwardly. Her secret doubt was coming out again. She was beginning to become ashamed of this childish competition against a dead woman. Challenging him wouldn't prove his love for her.If she had told Kouga that, in order to win her love, he had to retrieve a flower from the tallest mountain, the alpha wolf would already be half way to the peak.

Even with such a pledge, the love within it was fragile and thin, like petals. Wilting petals lost to the early winter frost.

Only that which could withstand the harshest conditions deserved the name of love. The blossom had to last each day, with petals still rich in color and yielding seeds for tomorrow; else it was no flower.

Kagome smiled, convinced Inuyasha was her flower.

No, actually it was two sunflowers, in his eyes. His pupils were raven pits, full of mystery and life, while his yellow irises werehis colorful personality....

She blinked. 'I am calling Inuyasha a flower. I really do need sleep.'

The hanyou frowned.

He wanted to run and escape the probing silence, especially with her brown eyes watching him so intently. What was she looking for? What did she see?

'Do you see the demon? Do you see the human?'

Inuyasha shifted nervously under her gaze. He was scared of either answer.

Somehow she got the message he was uncomfortable, and turned away. The coals were nearly black, barely outlining the miko's body in a gold line. Her shadowy figure mesmerized him.

She was entering a place only he belonged, the darkness. This dark place was his security, where he could be alone.

It was where nightmares and everything wrong hid. It was where he hid.

She was too pure for darkness to touch. Maybe they had slept countless times under the stars, surrounded by the darkness, but she had always been in the firelight, or sometimes even the moon's light.

Someone so bright shouldn't be able to reach the ebony pit he festered in.

He wished, almost desperately, that she could be part of this, but she couldn't understand. The night gave him walls to hide behind, to relieve his face of the mask.

Else they would see the doubt and fear within him.

Even though Kagome could see past the mask he had been living behind for so long, it wasn't enough. There were things no human could understand.

She didn't see that he had been comfortable in his misery. Maybe he was unhappy, but he had been able to understand things.

To be human was weak.

To be demon was strong.

He had understood what he wanted in life. But now she had changed everything. Made him dream that maybe, just maybe, there was something else to make him happy.

He had thought his true desire was to become a demon, or to go to Hell with Kikyo.

In the end, when the Shikon Jewel had granted Kagome's wish, his happiness was to send Kikyo to Hell alone, but in peace; and to seal Kagome's way home. How was that supposed to make him happy?

He understood he had always wanted Kikyo to have peace. Even when he had fallen for the priestess, he had always wished to wash away her sadness.

But Kagome… How could watching her be ripped away from her home, her time, her very family, bring him happiness?

Now she was becoming an official miko. He knew very little about humans' way of life, but he did know priests and priestesses often kept from marrying for religious purposes. Did that make him happy?

Inwardly, he knew why it upset him. He had been afraid to admit it, but he loved her.

Yet now, how was he supposed to confess something he didn't understand, especially when what she now believed in forbade her to love?

Inuyasha blinked rapidly as her warm hand ran over his arm. She grappled in the dark. "I'm sorry. It's just hard to see now, with the fire out."

"Feh," he grumbled, immediately aware of how close she was. "It's high time you go to sleep, wench."

She pulled her hand back, burnt. 'Maybe I'm pushing too hard. Something that seems so simple to me, like sitting together by a fire, is hard for him. He just can't let his guard down as easily as I can.'

Even in the dark he could see the guilt in her eyes. "Yeah. You're right."

He watched her stand, intending to leave. Part of him jumped, wanting to stop her. Being alone in the dark no longer appealed to him. 'Don't leave yet.'

He forced himself to remain seated, though every fiber reached for her.

'You're not ready.' She bitterly stumbled in the dark. 'And I need to be willing to wait.'

It wasn't long before the warmth at his side grew cold.

Sesshoumaru edged through the dark stairwell, careful to keep his movements at the smallest decibel. He had to hurry. The meeting had been called for two hours after midnight. She would notice if he was a second overdue.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?"

The powerful demon snarled as his retainer's voice broke his shelter of silence. He could already hear the frog's feet slapping loudly up the stone steps. "My lord!"

He rounded the curve and suddenly his short form was in view. "Finally I have found you, Lord Sesshoumaru. I've been searching high and low for that stupid girl, but she's disappeared!"

'Stupid frog.'

"Lower your voice, Jaken," he snapped, with barely anyedge.

His oversized staff slipped from his slimy fingers, and the frog scrambled to intercept. "But my lord-"

"I know where she is," he replied,passing his surprised servant. It was best to keep his loyal retainer in the dark. The less he knew the better. "Has the meeting begun yet?"

Jaken scrambled down behind him. "Well no, but Lord Sesshoumaru, what about the girl?"

"I know where she is and that's enough."

The frog quickly shut his mouth. His lord's words were final.

Personally, Jaken didn't care where the little annoyance was, but he was concerned about her sudden separation. Dismissing her meant Lord Sesshoumaru was worried about her presence so close to the Blood Four. It would be quite a mess if she had been discovered. Was his master concerned with his reputation, or the girl's well being? Jaken guessed, and feared, both answers.

Sesshoumaru ducked through the first arch and strode purposefully down the narrow hall. Jaken quickened his pace to keep up. "Your mother came for you the last hour. I told her you were onan errand and would be back in time for the meeting."

The West Lord scowled. 'She's suspicious.'

Jaken carefully studied his master, waiting for any noticeable response. After three decades, he had begun to pick up on his master's small quirks. Even the tiniest of movements spoke volumes of information; the twitch of a brow could speak of anxiety.

However, the hall was too dark to really see, even with his enhanced senses. He wasn't even aware of the fox demon blocking their way.

Kurso lazily scratched his ear as the noble approached. Even with his lower status, the fox gave a haughty grin to the icy noble. "So, you have finallysurfaced."

Sesshoumaru passed the servant without a visible response. He didn't care if the fox did disrespect him.

Kurso frowned, not at all amused that he was so easily ignored. He might be a servant under the dog's mother, but he was still a powerful fox demon to be feared. What frustrated him most, though, was the fact that to do more to the lord would guarantee him a throttling from his lady.

He turned and locked his glare on the weak frog, deciding to take it out on the lesser demon. "Tell your master to mind himself."

Jaken glared back, not intimidated while his master was so close. "Know your place, Kurso."

The fox immediately stood, and arched his fur. A servant was commanding him when he didn't even take crap from his own master. His eyes flashed a dangerous red. "I do know my place, but obviously you have forgotten the blood that runs in your veins."

"Beinga demon doesn't give you the right to overstep authority," Jaken pressed, bringing both his hands to clutch the Staff of Heads. Give him a reason and he would set the fox in his place.

Kurso followed the frog's hands. 'He thinks he can best me?!'

Anger boiled in his chest, stretching throughout his impatient limbs. His ears went flat against his crown and the fox flashed his row of white weapons. "Of course, if I rip off your flesh for my meal, I wouldn't be overstepping authority."

"Enough."

Neither of the servants could deny the echoing command from the West Lord. To overstep a lord was minor compared to disobedience. Kurso was tempted to claim he served only the Lady of the South, but he didn't want to be punished in front of the frog. 'I'll wait for a better time.'

Jaken sneered at the fox servant. 'So will I.'

The two demons submissively fell into step beside each other, and together, if you could call it that, pursued the dog demon. Both reached him just as the noble entered the large room spilling out of the hall.

The room, though primitively carved from tooth and claw, was very elegant in its own right. The four pillars within the empty, spacious room were covered with jackals and dogs spiraling up their base. The narrative drawings were so detailed that the stone figures appeared to be guardians of the moonlight that streamed from the skylight above. Their lifeless eyes glared down at the lord and servants, daring them to steal away the spotlight.

Sesshoumaru wasted no time in passing the stone columns to claim his spot in the room. No one had yet arrived, but they would be there shortly. Kurso and Jaken followed close behind, and each took a spot between different columns; Jaken went behind Sesshoumaru, while Kurso took his place behind his lady's normal seat.

Never having seen it, Jaken carefully observed the room, noting the vast number of maps engraved in the walls, and the single atlas centered in the floor. Most of the charts were outdated, left over from as early as the 2nd Age. Lady Sakura had done some redecorating, but it was obvious that these chambers were quite beyond the day she had taken control of these borders. Jaken idly wondered who the shaper of the North House had been.

He was forced to lose track of the thought, however, when a new presence entered through the arch opposite. Regally she strode in, her short white train sliding behind her. She was proud and confident in her movements as she stepped in front of Kurso, holding herself above them. Her eyes danced coldly over her son. "You have returned, I see."

Naturally, he didn't respond to something so obvious. He decided to instead stare down at the gold and red map at their feet, his focus stopping on his western lands.

His silence irritated her, and she clenched her jaw to keep from snapping. To show emotion was a weakness, even if it was her son. If someone could read her thoughts then it meant they could manipulate her.

She inhaled softly. "What has sent you past my borders, my son?"

His eyebrows twitched in surprise, but she never caught it.

She had seen him leave? Sesshoumaru lifted his blank face to her. "I was checking on a few things back in the west."

Her teeth ground together. "You went to see her, didn't you?"

"No," he replied calmly, focusing again on the map. This wasn't the first time he had lied to her, and he doubted it would be the last. "And, yes, I know you're keeping me in your sights."

He still would tell her nothing, even when he was supposed to answer to her.

She turned away, allowing the subject to drop. He was just like her, a blank wall. She had taught him to be like that, after all. She would deal with his secrets later, once the meeting was over.

It didn't seem very long before the next noble appeared. All attention went to a third door as the sound of rubbing scales reached their alert ears. Lord Shiro crawled out of the hall following the noise. The dragon carefully dragged the length of his bodyinside, and slowly arranged himself so he didn't monopolize the space. After uncoiling into a comfortable position, the dragon lowered his head to the other demons. The moonlight immediately exposed his true face, a white facemask embedded in his brow.

Sesshoumaru's gold eyes became slits at the sight of the white oval. There was no doubt that Shiro was the descendant of his father's killer, Ryuukossei.

The dragon's double pair of eyes blinked in union as he gave a curt nod to the other demons. "Sakura. Sesshoumaru."

She swept back her glossy white hair, showing off her unblemished face. "Shiro."

Her son didn't offer acknowledgement, save for a hard stare.

There was only one left to wait on, and he came two seconds after that. The moment he stepped inside, the silence became suffocating. He rolled back his shoulders and strode stiffly forward, his lush copper coat shining in the faint moonlight.

Jaken watched the new presence with burning curiosity. Out of all the demons present, Aki was the most mysterious. He was young for a demon, and even younger for a noble. Staring at the demon that resembled a lion with no mane, Jaken couldn't even remember exactly which cat demons were crossed in the noble's blood.

On the other hand, it was Aki's younger sister, who was trailing behind him, whom Jaken had absolutely no knowledge about. Presently in her human form, Cynthia was an exotic and sensuous creature, with her messy red hair and glossy tan skin. Her large ears twitched from atop her head, tossing about her flaming mane. Clad in tight brown leather that lacked both sleeves and pant legs, the woman showed off a slim tail and a great deal of her alluring skin. Of course the finishing touch was the white gold cuffs on both her wrists and ankles, along with a matching collar.

The present audience, nevertheless, saw only the massive gold emblem of her house on the front of her outfit.

Without offering a greeting, Aki and Cynthia both took the final position in the circle, placing the floor map directly in the center of the Blood Four. All that mattered was preparing for the mess that would come, not mindless socialization.

Sakura sat down on the cold floor, the kimono pooling in her lap. She was just as eager to settle things. Their stenches were beginning to mark her house.

"My scouts have confirmed that they should be in the village sometime tomorrow," she answered smoothly.

Behind her Kurso, her retainer, nodded, but none of the four lords glanced in the fox demon's direction. They were more concerned by the fact that the woman was the first to speak, almost declaring herself leader.

The fourth lord stepped forward, revealing more of himself to the bit of moonlight. He threw back his shoulders, his gold coat rolling in a shiny wave. "It appears all targets will be accounted for by tomorrow, then."

"Tomorrow would be the ideal time," Sakura sneered in agreement. "They will be too busy greeting each other. Their guard will go down, and that will be the moment we can strike."

"But only a handful of demons have responded to our call to arms," the pale mask grumbled from atop the dragon's head. "Will we have enough force with only four hundred demons?"

Tense silence.

"We have no choice," Sakura snapped, a dangerous edge in her voice. She glared at each lord in turn, daring them to challenge her. "If we can take out the leaders we can cripple and confuse them. Maybe even scatter them. The element of surprise should be enough to get us in and out."

"It would have to be quick," Sesshoumaru agreed with indifference. "Staying too long will allow them to regroup."

Aki nodded. "We can have the Kitshio ["weak blood"] sweep through the villagers. While they distract the people, we can eachattack key figures."

There was a round of solid agreement.

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Someone grabbed her shoulders, dragging her from the velvet fields. "Kagome, wake up. It's morning."

The girl shoved her face deeper into the soft grass, mumbling feeble indifference. "Give me five more minutes, mom."

"It's already several hours after dawn, Kagome," she insisted, relentless. "Plus, we have a little girl here that we were hoping you could explain."

"Girl?" the miko slurred, the fuzzy grass slowly knitting a blanket over her. "What girl?"

"Rin."

The name immediately ripped her eyes open. Kagome quickly sat up in her sleeping bag and saw Sango's face. "Where is she?"

"She's in the other room eating breakfast," the huntress replied as she leveled her eyes with her sister's. "So you know why she's here?"

"Yes," the miko hastily confirmed as she scrambled to stand.

Sango offered her arm and lifted her sister up. "Well, that's good. We were a little shook up when we found her."

"Don't worry," Kagome soothed. "A few things happened last night. I'll explain, but how about breakfast first?"

"Sure." The huntress agreed reluctantly. She would have preferred an explanation, but she supposed it could wait.

Stepping inside of the main room after the slayer, Kagome's brown eyes automatically dropped onto the small girl chatting away with her little kit. Rin was smiling, having forgotten about her endless tears from the night before. If she was still upset, she was hiding it well for a twelve-year-old.

Looking up, Kagome noticed Kaede and Miroku waiting expectantly on the other side of the room. She nodded and strode over to them, inwardly wondering where Kohaku and Inuyasha were.

"Good morning," Kagome announced herself as she passed the two children.

Rin and Shippo dropped whatever conversation they were having and smiled up at their foster mother. "Good morning."

As the miko sat down, Sango handed her a full plate. Kagome smiled to her as the huntress took a seat beside her. "Thanks."

The time traveler stared down at the meal, but she ignored the food for the moment, and began. "Sesshoumaru came to me last night."

There was an immediate ripple in the room.

"But he didn't attack me," Kagome continued with a shrug. She had already repeated this story three or four times to Inuyasha and she had lost sight of the drama in the tale. "All I know is he left Rin in my care, saying something about how his title would kill her."

"His title?" Kaede questioned.

The time traveler shook her head. "I don't know either, but I do know that he will come back for her eventually, though, he didn't say when."

The elder bowed her head, troubled by this new event. "Whatever is going on, it's about to escalate. Sesshoumaru wouldn't have brought Rin otherwise."

Sango glanced at Miroku, fear crawling into the pit of her belly. 'Why does it feel like the gates of Hell are about to break open?'

The monk turned to the village elder. "I don't want to sound like Inuyasha, but there must be something we can do other than just sitting around."

Kaede couldn't answer. There was nothing to go by. As far as they knew, only Sesshoumaru was involved. Yet, the old priestess knew it stretched beyond his reach. She could sense anxiety in the trees and air. An immense darkness was brewing; something much larger than the single lord could create.

They needed to be ready, but how?

"We must be patient," Kaede instructed, hoping her words would not bring about their doom. "Let us go about the day as always, but keep yourguards up. I shall construct a barrier around the village to ward off demons. Hopefully that will be enough for now."

Kaede's decisions had never failed them; why should they doubt her now?

They easily agreed, but none of them could brush off the gnawing fear in their stomachs.

Kagome pushed aside her empty plate and turned to her adopted children. "How about we go visit the other village kids? I'm sure they would love to meet you, Rin, and they probably miss Shippo."

"Sure," the girl squealed excitedly, grabbing her new playmate's hand. "Come on, Shippo!"

Kagome watched the girl carefully. 'She's already falling in love with these people. Does she miss human contact,I wonder?"

The child's eyes danced as she looked up at her new guardian. Rin eagerly held up her pudgy little hand. "Come on, Lady Kagome."

For several frozen heartbeats, the young time traveler was motionless, images of her mother flashing inside her head. Kagome saw a younger version of herself holding her mom's hand, smiling up at her with a grin identical to Rin's. The blood drummed against her ears. 'I'm a mother. Never really thought of it, but wow.'

The miko slowly took the child's hand, warmth lingering in their intertwined fingers. "Just call me Kagome, Rin."

"Ok," the little girl agreed, hardly noticing the intimate difference.

Shippo scrambled up the woman's back, and wrapped his arms around her neck for a piggyback ride. Careful not to jostle the growing kit, the miko turned to Sango. "How about we skip training today and just have a good time? It will calm the nerves."

"Good idea," the fighter replied with enthusiasm. "Kohaku might enjoy it as well. I'll go get him from the dojo."

"I'll come along as well," Miroku announced as he wrapped his arm over the demon exterminator's shoulder, earning a blush from her. "I can wait on the carrier while I'm there. Besides, I'd hate to be separated from my little beauty."

Kagome giggled at her sister's red face. "Well then, let's go."

"Have fun," Kaede called after them as they piled out. It was good to see them at ease, even if she was not. Once the elder priestess was alone she gathered the dirty plates in a small bucket and set them aside to be washed later. Getting the barrier up was more important.

She had been afraid to tell the others, but this new darkness was spread out in her mind, scattered like a bunch of marbles. These last few days, the marbles had been gradually rolling together.

Throughout her many years, she had never experienced such an enormity of dark powers combining at one point. Kaede was no seer, but she knew many lives would be lost to its coming.

And for once, she felt totallypowerlessto stop it.

-----------------------------------------------

A handful of children were in the village's main road, scrambling after each other in a game of catch the fox demon, while their mothers watched from under the cool shade of their front doors. The kids were so intent on catching the kit that they moved together like a flock of birds; when Shippo hung right they would all follow in a rolling wave. Now of course the flock kept flying in circles, unable to pass the invisible lines that the four guards protected.

Kagome pulled her head back, laughing, as two of the boys fell over each other in an attempt to grab Shippo's tail. She always enjoyed playing with the village kids. There wasn't much of a chance, now that she was involved with her new training, but whenever she came around them, new life surged in her. 'Yep, I definitely want to have kids one day.'

The time traveler waved at the watching mothers. They smiled back, happy to see that the miko and her friends cared enough to spend time with their families.

Sango clapped excitedly as Rin finally tackled Shippo. The slayer was completely absorbed inthe game. "Good job, Rin!"

"Thanks!" the girl shouted, already racing away from the other children's grabbing hands. She laughed, purely giddy. This was the first time other children had allowed her to play in the game. She had always been the outcast, but here she was welcomed.

Sango pushed her guard post closer to her sister, walking to the edge of the imaginary square as Kilala mewed from her shoulder. "Rin seems to be enjoying this."

"Yeah." The miko's brown eyes followed the small child. "I wonder if this is all the human contact she's ever had."

The exterminator shrugged. "Who's to say? We only met her after she was with Sesshoumaru."

"True." Kagome carefully watched Rin's happy face melting into the crowd. 'But she belongs here. You can just see it.'

"Is it even a good idea to let Sesshoumaru take her back?" Sango wondered with sudden concern. "He is a powerful demon, after all, and we never met him on good terms."

'But he cares about her.' The miko shook her head. "I doubt he would ever harm her. He brought her to us because he was worried about her well-being. She's safe in his care, though I'm not sure it's right to rip her away from human contact."

Sango bowed her head and Kilala rubbed against her cheek. "Is it even right of us to decide where she goes?"

'I don't know.'

"In my time people believed it was right to decide if parents were unfit," Kagome answered quietly. "Sometimes taking the children away from the parents was for the best, but sometimes it hurt them. It's a lot more complicated in my time, though. I'll try to explain it to you someday."

Sango nodded, convinced for now. There was a lot about the future she still didn't understand, but she trusted Kagome's word. "So you think when he comes back for her, she should go with him?"

Trusting her instincts, the girl nodded. "Probably, but we should wait and see when the time comes."

The children cheered loudly, pulling the women from their conversation. Shippo had gotten revenge on Rin by tagging her.

Sango laughed at the wild display and glanced slyly towards the monk, who was chasing after a few runaways on the other end of the imaginary square. The miko caught the direction of her sister's gaze and smiled mischievously. "He looks like he would make a good father."

The huntress immediately blushed. "Yes, he does."

Kagome's grin split wider, and she opened her mouth to encourage the blush, when a sensation like a hot needle crept into the back of her head. Kagome automatically lifted her eyes to the east, goosebumps crawling over her skin. 'What is that?'

"Kagome?"

The miko squinted as she noticed several dark shapes coming up the main road. 'What is that I feel?'

The needle began to grow, pulsating with her heartbeats. The dust threw up in clouds, as the train of wagons grew closer. Kagome stepped away from the children, followed by Sango.

"Who is that?" the huntress mumbled, Kilala hissing from atop her shoulder.

Kagome shook her head and glanced towards the children, who were still feverishly involved in playing tag. "Not sure, but we should get the kids out of the way."

Her sister agreed and called the game off, scurrying the children out of the road and back to their mothers. The monk and two slayers came to the miko's side, eyes sternly set on the approaching caravan.

The dust was covering the number of wagons, but the priestess guessed there were over a dozen, plus a carriage near the front. 'Who would be coming to this village with this many people?'

Her eyes ran over the black carriage. There were no distinct wooden designs on the side of it, with only the Japanese red and white curtains for doors. Kagome could understand the wagons, but what was with the carriage sticking out?

No marks, yet the carriage spoke of some importance.

Besides, the sensation in her scalp was growing hotter as they drew near. There was power with these travelers.

She pulled her back straight 'Well, it's only right that I welcome whoever it is. I am next in line to be leader of this village, after all.'

She strode purposefully forward, trailed by her sister. Kagome waved to her brothers, signaling them to hang back and guard Rin and Shippo, just in case. Several of the villagers came from their houses, watching their guardians go to meet the strangers. They hung close to their children, unsure of what to expect.

Kagome glanced at Sango, finding her just as worried. That didn't make the time traveler feel better.

Kagome doubted there was any danger, but she was nervous with everything that had happened recently. Kaede's words were well remembered. 'Keep your guard up.'

Once the carriage was near, the driver, a scraggly youth, pulled the pair of horses to a stop and called out over his shoulder to the riders inside. "Lord Neekal, we have arrived."

The carriage shook back and forth, proof that someone had heard the boy. As she waited for someone to appear, Kagome stared behind him at the rest of the wagons. There were hundreds of people alongside the wagons, most in their late twenties or earlier thirties. Any that were older were enjoying the luxury of sitting along with the supplies in back of the wagons. She didn't spot a single child amongst them, but she did see several monks, priests, and priestesses. There were also fighters amongst them, bearing the symbols of random towns and kingdoms, some of which the miko knew were at arms against each other. Sweat and dirt clung to them, obvious gifts from traveling, but each of them could easily slip into the village with their friendly smiles.

'I don't feel anything wrong here, but I still feel uncomfortable about this.'

"Good day to you, priestess," a scratchy voice greeted, bringing the miko's focus back to the carriage. There, shakily stepping down, was a bald priest favoring a wooden cane.

Within his blue eyes, the miko could see years of wisdom and life burning. He appeared to be in his near sixties, but he held the youth of a twenty year old in his eyes. Her grandfather had held a similar fire. "I am Lord Neekal, High Priest from the northern town of Yaldan."

Following what she had been taught in both past and future, Kagome respectfully bowed. 'Okay, do this right.'

Straightening, she spoke loudly so the caravan could hear. "I am Lady Kagome, Priestess to this village and Successor to Lady Kaede. I welcome you."

Sango smiled, proud of her best friend, while the priest bowed in return. Kagome glanced again at the caravan before continuing. "May I ask, my lord, why you and these people are here?"

He nodded as he leaned against his cane, winded with age. "I would rather I discuss that with Lady Kaede, if you don't mine, Lady Kagome."

'No harm in that, I suppose. We're worried about demons, not humans, anyway,' the miko thought carefully, still eyeing the fighters in the bunch. "All right. I'll bring you to her."

Neekal smiled, his eyes crinkling like her grandfather's did. "Thank you. I truly appreciate it."

Sango leaned over, her warm breath brushing against the miko's shoulder. "Good job, Kagome. You sound like a leader."

The time traveler weakly chuckled. "I doubt this was such a big deal, but thanks."

'Although I was so nervous I could have thrown up.'

New shakes from the carriage brought the miko's gaze back to thered and white door. A hand appeared, pushing aside the curtain to reveal the bearded face of a middle-aged man.

Unconsciously, Kagome's mouth dropped open as she stared hard at the new priest stepping out. There was no doubt in her mind as the word rang through her head. 'Daddy?'