The Path We Walk
Chapter 8: Westbound with Old Friends
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all of it's characters are property of the brilliant Takahashi-sama and I claim no ownership of them. Only the story belongs to me.
AN: Okies sorry this chapter took so long, between coming to the states to visit my family and catching a nasty cold the second day I was here, btw explain to me how someone catches a cold in TX in the middle of August???, anyways I wasn't able to work on the story until my cold pretty much went away. That and my mom was always on her computer lol.
Cliché 8 come on down!:
1. Kagome turning bitter and wanting to kill Inuyasha or to commit suicide when he betrays her. Any time I see these I have to wonder if people writing them even know who Kagome is.
2. Kagome running off to the future while pregnant only to come back after having the kid/s.
3. Kagome's father coming back and having an important roll, don't remember if they ever said what happened to him but if he was important wouldn't he be there to begin with?
A while later they had all gathered around the dinning room table as a feast was brought out and set before them. They all waited until Chikara had taken his first bite and began eating themselves as conversations started up around the table.
"Lord Chikara?" Kagome said grabbing the taiyoukai's attention as well as a few others around the table. "Why did the Kurohyou attack?"
"They are rebels that live deep in the forest on my land, they, however, believe the South belongs to them and wish to take in from me. Unfortunately for them, they have neither the numbers no the power to do so."(1) Chikara explained looking up at her before turning back to his meal.
"Ah." Kagome replied after a moment and began eating again as well.
"Lord Sesshoumaru there is a Taka youkai here asking for an audience with you." a guard informed him after walking into the dinning room with a bow.
A slight nod from Sesshoumaru was his only reply and a moment later the doors opened up to show a young female youkai with long brown hair matching the wings on her back.
"My Lord, I am Airashii." the girl said with a bow before kneeling down on one knee. "I have come to inform you that the ningen known as Tadashii has made it to the Taka village. As it stands he only has a few more villages to go through before he makes it to the Western castle. Also I was able to count forty men before I lost track." she explained as she kept her eyes on the ground in front of her.
"How does the Taka village fair?" Sesshoumaru inquired after thinking over the information for a moment.
"It was destroyed my lord." she answered sadly. Sesshoumaru merely nodded his head and the Taka youkai was escorted out to be given a room for the night.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome called out to him later that night after finding him out in the garden. He glanced at her for a moment to let her know he was listening before turning back toward the stars which he had been watching a moment before.
"I would like to send for Sango and Miroku to help with Tadashii when we head to the west for him, would you mind?" Kagome wondered as she sat down a little ways away from him and turned her gaze to the stars as well.
"Just them." Sesshoumaru replied after a moment and after a quick thanks Kagome headed back inside to search out the Taka she had seen earlier. Which easier than she had thought it would be since the moment she stepped inside she spotted the youkai heading down the hall toward her.
"Airashii right?" Kagome greeted with a smile as she stopped in front of the girl.
"Hai miko-sama." Airashii replied with a bow.
"You're heading back up west soon correct?" Kagome inquired and after a nod from the young girl she continued, "Would you mind delivering a message to the Taijiya village and let Sango and Miroku know what is going on and that I request their help in the west?"
"Of course, but how will they know it is truly from you?" Airashii wondered after thinking for a moment.
"Just tell them I said 'the well is the path'." Kagome replied with a smile and after Airashii bowed, she started toward the meeting hall.
"Have the messengers been sent?" Chikara asked as he walked down a long hallway in his castle and met up with Kouga and Kaigaishii.
"Yes, our men should be prepared for battle when we reach them. Lord Kouga and I shall head out in moments." Kaigaishii replied with a slight nod.
"Very well." Chikara said as Sesshoumaru as his group joined them.
"We are leaving as well to get the West ready." Sesshoumaru informed them stoic as ever. And after slight bows from the group, he turned and left knowing his group would follow.
"Tadashii-sama." a man called out as he walked over to where the houshi was sitting next to the camp fire. After the houshi turned his head to him he continued, "The men have scouted ahead as you asked, there are only six more youkai villages until we reach the castle of the western lord."
"Good the battle will soon be upon us and we will be that much closer to ridding this world of aka." Tadashii replied coldly as he turned his gaze back to the fire.
"One step youkai and we will not hesitate to kill you." a young taijiya called out a moment after watching a taka transform into it's human shape in front of him.
"I have come with no ill will. My name is Airashii and I bring a message for Lady Sango and Lord Miroku." Airashii replied with a slight bow of her head.
"What message could a youkai bring that they would want to hear?" another man spat out, his distrust of the youkai evident in his voice.
"It is from Lady Kagome." Airashii replied having no intention of relying the message to the ningens in front of her. As the man went to speak again a soft gasp was heard as a woman came forward with a houshi at her side.
"Kagome-chan sent you?" Sango inquired while inwardly trying to figure out why Kagome would send a youkai they didn't know into the heart of the taijiya village.
Miroku on the other hand was thinking a bit more clearly and decided to ask the more important question at the moment. "How do we know Lady Kagome really sent you?"
"She said to tell you 'the well is the path' what ever that means." Airashii replied rolling her eyes slightly at the strange expression.
Perking up at the words, Sango smiled a bit before speaking again, "Come inside and we can talk." then turned and headed inside her and Miroku's hut with him and Airashii following. After serving her some tea, Sango sat down next to Miroku and gestured for the youkai to speak.
"Lady Kagome wanted you to know that there is a ningen houshi by the name of Tadashii going around with the sole purpose of killing ever youkai. He cares not if they are innocent, women or children. He believes that just being youkai makes you evil and deserving to die. In a few days time he will be at the castle of Lord Sesshoumaru for a battle with him and others and Lady Kagome wishes the two of you to be there as well." Airashii explained before taking a sip of her tea.
"He must have a lot of men if our help is needed as well." Miroku decided after thinking the information over for a moment.
"When he attacked my village there were at least forty but I believe he knows he will be fighting Lord Sesshoumaru soon since he seems to be heading directly to his castle, and most likely will decide to bring more men. But truthfully it seemed as though Lady Kagome just wanted you by her side." Airashii explained and Sango and Miroku exchanged knowing glances.
"Thank you for letting us know. We will head out as soon as we are ready." Sango informed her with a slight bow and watched her leave before turning to gather her stuff with Miroku.
"What's that for?" Miroku asked nodding to the extra weapon Sango was carrying as they walked out the door.
"You remember what happened last time don't you?" Sango asked with a laugh as she waited for Kirara to transform before climbing onto her back followed by Miroku.
"Good point." Miroku agreed with a slight chuckle.
The more resent Inu-tachi arrived at the western palace and was straight away lead toward the back. As they stopped in front of a wall, they watched as Sesshoumaru sniffed the air a few times before being satisfied there were no one close to them, and pushed on the wall in front of him. After a few moments the wall moved back making a slight scraping sound on the floor and revealed a passage way.
"What's this Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked after walking inside as his gesture to do so and followed in by the others.
"This Sesshoumaru's true home. The castle is for show." Sesshoumaru explained as he moved the wall back in place and began leading the others down the passage way which soon opened up into a labyrinth of cave tunnels. Leading them through the tunnels took only a few minutes and soon he was standing in front of another wall at the back of a large room.
"This is a safe room. For pups during an attack." Sesshoumaru explained after pushing the wall in and revealing another room behind it. "Rin and Shippo will stay here with Jaken and Ah-Un to guard until this battle is over." Sesshoumaru demanded and after the children nodded to him, they took off to explore the room.
"There are food and supplies stored over there." Sesshoumaru informed Jaken pointing over to the side before turning his attention back to the toad at his feet. "Let nothing happen to them." Sesshoumaru warned before walking back out of the room. After Kagome said her goodbyes, she followed after and watched as he pulled the wall back into place. Once again it seemed nothing more than a normal wall, not even seams shown to inform any of the hidden room behind.
Noticing Sesshoumaru walking away, Kagome quickly followed after and stayed close behind until they had left the den and were back inside the castle walls. Once the wall was back in place, they headed for his study to receive any reports or updates there might be.
Dawn of the next day was greeted with Sesshoumaru still seated at his desk while going over papers he had been putting off while Kagome slept on the floor near by. She had fallen asleep late in the night and he had neither the time nor the want to wake her so he had just let her be, however since he now felt the other taiyoukai approaching it was time she got up.
Walking silently over to her still form he none to gently shook her shoulder rousing her from her slumber instantly. "Yeah yeah I'm up." Kagome mumbled waving her hand at him before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and giving off a long yawn.
"They're here." Sesshoumaru informed her as he walked back over to where he had been seated as a knock came from the door. "Enter." Sesshoumaru called out and the door opened to reveal Chikara, Kaigaishii, Kouga and one of Sesshoumaru's messengers standing there. The three took their seats in front of Sesshoumaru as the messenger walked over to him and bowed.
"Lord Sesshoumaru we have received reports that Tadashii is roughly a few days away from out steps." the youkai informed him and after a slight nod that he had heard, he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Let us discuss our plans." Sesshoumaru said stoically as he turned his attention back to the others.
"You made it!" Kagome cried cheerfully as she rushed down the steps and flung herself into the waiting arms of Sango as Miroku climbed off of Kirara behind her.
"But of course Lady Kagome." Miroku said with a grin as he too received a hug and after earning a look that warned future pain from Sango, brought his hand, that had been reaching for Kagome's backside, back up to her back.
"So what have we missed?" Sango inquired as Kagome lead them into the castle where the others were waiting for them.
"The other taiyoukai have arrived with their men and last report shows Tadashii a few days away." Kagome informed them as she lead the way down the long hallway.
"Is Jaken guarding the children?" Sango wondered and after Kagome's nod she continued, "Would you like to have Kirara join him for some extra backup?"
"This Sesshoumaru will take her there." Sesshoumaru answered before Kagome had a chance as he walked over to them and turned back not bothering to wait to see if she would follow.
"Come on I'll take you guys to the study." Kagome said with a smile after watching Kirara take off after the lord and continued on the way she had been going.
"So what's with the bow?" Kagome wondered as she was opening the door to the study having noticed it on Sango's back.
"Oh this is for you. It's made from..." Sango started but as she noticed who was in the room decided that saying 'youkai bone' probably wasn't the best idea and changed tacks, "the same stuff as mine so it will be stronger. I'm sure we all remember what happened in the battle against Naraku and I don't think you want your bow to break again." Sango explained and bow respectfully as she was introduced to the taiyoukai.
"What happened with Naraku?" Chikara inquired after everyone had taken their seats and were waiting for Sesshoumaru to return.
As Sesshoumaru was coming back in through the door Kagome began recounting the battle that most of them had taken part in.
Flashback
The battle had been going on for what seemed like hours for everyone around the battlefield, no end seemingly in sight. Kagome looked around taking in all of the damage they had inflicted and what had been inflicted to them. Kirara and Shippo were off fighting a few lesser youkai a little ways behind Kagome with nothing more than a few scratches.
Miroku was currently fighting off another one of Naraku's incarnations with his staff and ofuda since he could not use his wind tunnel with Naraku's insects around. A few gashes on his arms and a seemingly slight limp were his only outward injures she could find.
Sango stood not far from him, every so often glancing over her shoulder to check on the normally lecherous monk, while fighting off a small group of youkai with her katana since she had lost her boomerrang told the beginning of the battle. The way she was favoring her arm made Kagome think that it was broken or at least seriously injured.
Kouga was a little ways away from her fighting with Kagura trying to get revenge for his fallen brothers. Kagome quickly noticed the glow from the shard that was normally in his left leg was gone after her attention was drawn to it by the pool of blood running down his leg. It didn't seem to slow him down however and seemed to have the upper hand in that fight.
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were currently, and for once, fighting together against Naraku rather than arguing over who gets to kill him. Sesshoumaru was supporting some pretty bad gashes across his chest and arms but she wasn't too worried about him since she had seen him come back from worse.
Inuyasha seemed to be the worst off from the group, covered mostly from head to toe in blood, the majority his own. His speed and strength wavered slightly and his knuckles had long turned white trying to keep a hold of his sword.
Turning her attention back to Shippo and Kirara, she quickly strung and shot an arrow at a youkai that had made it past their defense and was about to attack Rin, while Jaken was currently trying to fend off another one from the other side. Noticing, Jaken gave her a quick nod of thanks before turning his attention back to the youkai he was fighting.
Notching another arrow and turning back to the battle with Naraku, Kagome let it fly toward a youkai that was closing in on the inu brothers while their backs were turned. Once it was killed, she readied another and pointed it at Naraku's open side, letting it fly as well.
He howled in pain as the purity power shot a gapping hole into his side and he turned his attention to Kagome. Ignoring the glare he was sending her, she notched another arrow and began to take aim as he threw the brothers away from him and rushed toward her.
A tentacle shot out from his body latching onto the bow before she had the chance to release, and broken it in half as his body continued to advance on her. Kagome looked down at her bow, now only connected by the string, wondering what in the world to do now, but had no more than a moment before he was on her and his tentacle racing toward her neck.
Allowing her power to seep into the bow as she would an arrow, the normally light brown color of the wood took on a pink hue, her powers crackling the air around it. As his body was launched onto hers, she thrust her make shift weapon into the spot she saw the dark glow from the tainted shard, where his heart would be if he still -or ever- had one.
His eyes went wide with shock as the jewel was instantly purified within his body causing the youkai within him to be purified as well, essentially destroying the evil known as Naraku. After picking up the almost complete jewel, she looked up to find only a few stray youkai remained and those not fighting them were currently staring at her.
"What?" Kagome wondered at the strange looks she was receiving from her friends and allies.
"First this onna pulls our father's sword and then she kills Naraku?" Sesshoumaru mumbled as he turned his gaze to his younger half brother.
"Just couldn't let me kill him could you?" Inuyasha mockingly yelled at her, all the while a large grin on his face.
"You were taking too long." Kagome joked back as she received the last shards from the group and combined it with the other to recreate the Shikon no tama, whole for the first time in almost four years.
End Flashback
"Tadashii-sama," one of his men started out slowly, not really wanting to be the one to deliver this newest bit of information. After Tadashii turned to glance at him he continued, "we've received word that the four taiyoukai's have arrived at the western castle."
Tadashii thought this news over a moment before a large grin spread across his face. "Good then we won't have to go looking for them. Once they fall, the rest will be cake." Tadashii insisted with a slight chuckle, causing the man to back away deciding he didn't want to stay there any longer.
1. Just fyi these are not the same demons that were after Sesshoumaru and trying to revive their master in the show, I believe they were panthers as well. These are a different tribe I made up, just letting ya know so there is no confusion.
Translations
Taka-hawk
Airashii-lovely
Kurohyou-panther
Chikara-strength
Aka-filth
Kaigaishii-brave
Inu-tachi-dog group
Ofuda-Talismen
Katana-sword
Shikon no Tama-Jewel of Four Souls
AN: Well there's the next chapter. Please R&R, good and bad reviews are both welcome however I will just ignore flames. Let me know if it sounds to cliché so I can edit it correctly
