Encounters with Obakemono by tenchi no mai

Kirin

This was written in response to MontiK's challenge.

Theme:  Kirin  

Due:  June 18th 

Required Word Count:  700

Actual Word Count: 1415

Universe:  Canon

Rating:  T

Warnings:  None 

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz Media.   Only the plot to this story and my original character, Shun, are my intellectual property.  I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

'Italics' = thoughts

Kirin

The combined tachis were once again on the move, following another rumor of a demon with a tainted jewel shard.

As usual, Inuyasha was in the lead, striding forward, while loudly haranguing everyone to keep moving.  In his earsplitting manner, he declared that there would be no stopping to eat or rest until they had gotten a few additional hours of travel under their feet. 

Sesshoumaru wanted to give in to the urge to roll his eyes, but resisted.  'Inuyasha will never be a true alpha until he learns to take better care of his pack.  The miko, whether he realizes it or not, is a better alpha to their little tachi than he is.  She is the one who makes most of the decisions, alibet after requesting everyones opinion, cooks for and feeds them, binds their wounds, worries about their health and well being, all while trying to placate the hanyou.'  He shot a quick glance over at her from the corner of his eye. 

Kagome was doing her best to keep up, along with everyone else, but the baka hanyou was setting a punishing pace today.  'What in the name of the Kamis is he thinking!  He is going to cause all sorts of problems with the humans.'  Rin and Shippo, as well as Jaken were currently riding on Ah-Un.  Sesshoumaru had relieved Kagome of her monsterous yellow backpack several hours ago, tieing it onto the harness for Ah-Un's saddlebags.  

She had lately taken to dressing more conservatively, and today was wearing a white, what she called a tee-shirt, and long, rather loose beige pants.   She definitely looked much less... controversial.  'And less like a pansuke, although I do miss being able to look at all that skin her short skirts allowed to be visible.',  his mind supplied. 

Kagome suddenly picked up her pace, and quickly catching up to Miroku and Sango, tapped them on the shoulders and pointed ahead and to the left.  Looking where she had pointed, Sesshoumaru noticed the group of trees off to the side of the road and the large patch of shade beneath them.  'So, she has finally gotten tired of Inuyasha's nonsense today.  It's about time.  I was getting ready to put her on Ah-Un's back before she toppled over from the heat.' 

As Inuyasha passed the group of trees, everyone slowed down, then followed Kagome over into the shade.  She sat, and taking off her woven straw hat began fanning herself with it.  It didn't take long before Inuyasha noticed he was alone and came tearing back to begin hounding everyone to get up and keep moving.  

"Inu-baka, we are only human, and need to get out of the sun and rest for awhile.  Look, even poor Ah-Un is hot and tired."  Kagome pointed behind her to where the tenbaryu was lying in the shade.  "We are sitting here until we are rested, have eaten, and are hydrated enough to continue, and that is all there is to it!" 

Just as it looked like he was about to continue harassing them, he suddenly shut his mouth with an audible clicking of fangs and turned to look over his shoulder at the trees on the other side of the road.  There, just barely noticeable between the foliage were several of Kikyo's shinidama-chuu.   The pale, eerie, snake like demons writhed  in an etheral dance through the trees, belying their sinister and morbid duties to the undead priestess.  Making a very slight whistling sound,  they effectively drew Inuyasha's attention away from the pack.  Without a single word, and only a quick look back at Kagome, he took off after them, vanishing through the trees like a red whirlwind. 

"Well, I guess we will have a couple of hours to rest before he shows up again!"  Sango bit out disgustedly.  "Unless he doesn't come back until morning, like the last few times." 

"Now Sango-chan, you know how he feels about Kikyo..." Miroku tried to placate the slayer, knowing she could rant about Inuyasha's desertion for hours.  

"Both of you stop.  It's too hot to argue.  Let's get something to eat and take a break while we figure out what to do."  Kagome was rooting through her backpack for some snacks, then realized they were almost out of water. 

"This Sesshoumaru will find a place to rest for the night."  Quickly locating a nearby clearing, he returned and directed the tachi towards the small glade only a few minutes away. 

After hastily setting up camp, and making dinner, the children promptly fell into a restless sleep, the adult humans swiftly following them into an exhausted slumber. 

Sesshoumaru sat leaning against a tree while keeping guard over the circle of sleeping humans and youkai.  He was thinking on many things, especially the events of the last few days.  'Inuyasha is comletely undependable.  Now that we have combined the two tachis, there cannot be two alphas.  It is my responsibility as the oldest son of Inu no Taisho, and as Kagome is already the alpha bitch, there should be no problems.  I will not allow Inuyasha to continue to put my intended mate into any more danger, nor abuse her or the rest of the pack.' 

A short while later Kagome stirred, then woke.  After retreating a safe distance to, as she put it "use the facilities", she quickly returned, and they sat talking quietly for a while.  Grabbing a couple of the water containers, she headed towards the spring which was not too far past the first of the trees that bordered their clearing. 

Sesshoumaru, using his youkai senses, was able to follow her progress to the spring.  He already knew, from his previous scan of the surrounding area, that there was nothing that presented any danger for miles.  When she hadn't returned in a few minutes, he stood intending to go after her, wondering if she could have possibly gotten harmed in such a short time. 

Following her scent, he tracked her to the rocky outcropping where the spring surfaced.  The water containers were laying there, and appeared to have already been filled, however Kagome was nowhere directly in sight.  Spreading his youki, he quickly located her crouching in back of a large bush, giving the impression of trying to hide from someone or something. 

Walking over, he kneeled behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.   Glancing up at him, she pointed between the trees, mouthing the words "What is it?" 

Kagome had been watching the creature gambol about as she tried to figure out what it was.  Though it was fearsome looking, she didn't sense any danger, it seem to radiate a calmness and serenity.  It had the head of a dragon and was covered with opalescent scales like pictures she had seen of dragons, however its body reminded her of a deer, with its slender legs and hoofed feet.  The creature was wreathed in flames, but it didn't burn the ground where it stood or any of the nearby trees.  

Putting an arm around her waist, Sesshoumaru pulled her close to his chest, as he inclined his head to whisper in her ear "Kirin."  Seeing her confused look, he quietly explained that it is a sacred familiar of the Kamis, and is a most powerful creature, even above the dragon and the phoenix.   "It can walk on grass and not trample the blades and can also walk on water.  The Kirin is an omen of immense good luck, and often appears at the beginning of a new and powerful dynasty, or the birth of a sage." 

The Kirin turned and appeared to look directly at them.  Taking a few steps forward, it suddenly opened its mouth and blew a stream of fire.  Kagome quickly closed her eyes and held her breath, anticipating being burned to death. 

When she opened her eyes the Kirin had disappeared and neither one of them seemed to suffer any burns.  Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru and noticed his markings were glowing brightly in the pale moonlight. 

Sesshoumaru could feel his markings stinging, and when he looked down at Kagome he saw a mirror image of them reflected on her forehead and cheeks.  Kissing her on the faint crescent moon on her forehead, he held her closer. 

'Blessed by a Kirin, and through the creature, by the Kamis themselves.  The omen must be regarding our intended mating; are our pups to be the beginning of the new and powerful dynasty being foretold?'

 ~*~

Fin