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Lady of the North	By : SereneSilence001 Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 1988 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-The Young Mistress
- 2-The Lion
- 1
- 2
A/N: So... I was pleased about the responses to my little teaser. I had a pretty sad rating but honestly- that doesn�t really bother me. *shrug* Anyhow- I will continue down the path I've started. Hopefully I won�t ramble as much as I'm doing now. >.>
- I do believe that this is the section where I discuss reviews...

moosegirl13 -- I'm glad it caught your eye. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

FourShotChild -- Kagome is not actually a demoness. <3 She is however, different. That will become apparent in the story. I look forward to hearing from you.

Okay! On to the story!

Disclaimer: I do not and will not claim to own any of these characters in my story. All other characters other than the disclaimed are fictional and are not based on any real persons. Any somewhat representation that is offensive and/or proving to have a semblance of real life is purely coincidental. The views in this story are not necessarily the views of the author and I do not, nor have I ever, made money by writing this story.

Chapter Two: The Lion

Isamu, The Great Lion of the North, He whom loved the Hawk, Master Tactician, and King of God's Peak had to be a stern man. Every year, his men fought an endless battle against the weather, youkai that half of the world did not believe exist, and constant pushing at his borders by forces unknown. The current annoyance came from across the neighboring continent. Miroku-sensei, whom was gifted with the opportunity to travel about the world, carefully studied his current report with undeniable interest.
"How far has Naraku's Army progressed?" The Lion smirked at the monk, grinning. "They are making amazing progress...in fact... many nations are now immediately laying down arms. Many nations are surrendering without bloodshed. However...I see he still does not treat survivors of the other nations well."
"So sure about that? His army is now quite massive. heh...the bastard is so arrogant; he even neglected to name his people!" The Lion barked out a rumbling laugh deep within his belly. Miroku smiled at his lord's little joke. Naraku, a great and terrible warlord from the far west cared for naught but conquest and he had recently set his sights on the 'unconquerable land.' For many, many years the north had been hounded and cat-called. Armies and bands of soldiers would set out to finally catch the Jewel of the North, reach out to grasp the stronghold that was God's Peak. It was ironic that it was called such, seeing that it rested at the base of the mountain.
No matter how many armies stood waiting to brave the dangers of the north, no matter how many different clans pushed at his borders, no matter how many youkai were seen attempting to chase the humans from the land; The Great Lion's pushed them back. The current Lion, as did his father and mother before him, ruled with a swing of his sword. There was neither conflict nor any challenge that his Ice-hardened people could not bear.
Though he had confidence in his people, he had to contemplate what it would mean for the future of his race if he met this challenge head on. Naraku's army was vicious and unrelenting. Isamu frowned. While his men had unsurpassable skill in the battlefield, Naraku held numbers that could overcome most any army. With no apparent respect for life, Naraku would just send one battalion after the other, until either he ran out of soldiers or the enemy lay dead. Sadly, he never ran out of soldiers.
"This is sad to say, my friend...but I believe we may need help for this. Far more help then our lovely friends from the East...." Miroku's palm itched. How he loved the dangerous, but lovely women from the East. Isamu's wife hailed from the women-led stronghold, once leader of the fabled warriors there. Isamu sighed to himself, his mouth pressed in a grim and firm line. "What are we to do, Miroku? There are no other allies other than the Ladies of the East." His attention turned to a slight creak of his chamber's main door. Glancing to Miroku, he silently stepped over to it and flung it wide open.
Kagome was brain-storming, leaning against her father's study door when she suddenly felt her support disappear from behind her. She lightly rocked back, catching herself before an untimely deposit upon the floor. She glanced to her father, a dark look on her face. "I hate to make things worse, papa...." She was trying to immediately dodge the fact that she had been eavesdropping again.
"I think we have other problems than more news, child." His eyebrow tensed ever so slightly as he motioned toward the door. "Papa...I'm 17 years old now and I think you should probably let me in on these things. Besides, I didn't exactly come for the intentions of listening in. I have more bad news to report." Studying his rather outspoken daughter's face, he decided to demand the information before he told her that she was his little girl and every time he looked at her he would see a small babe and....
"I was out hunting today. Shot a rather large doe." Isamu's eyebrow perked. His daughter wouldn't label a missed or lost deer as bad news. "She ran and I was in pursuit. We came upon a nearby clearing to find a massive bloodstain all over the snow and tracks left behind from a rather large youkai. I even managed a glance at it before withdrawing." Isamu's nostril's flared, rage slowly boiling under his skin as his face started to imitate a tomato. "And WHERE were your guards during all this?" Kagome attempted a smile to alleviate her father's apparent anger. "Left behind. Daddy...please don't blame them. The armor they wear is just too heavy for them to keep up...and Rei likes to be in the lead."
"You should have withdrawn and made Rei take the lead straight back here the MOMENT you knew something was wrong!" Rather than getting better, Isamu's temper was getting worse. "I tell you this every time you misbehave but you never seem to understand how much value you hold to your kingdom! You are our ONLY child Kagome...If something happens to you, this whole kingdom will be lost! Your mother and I cannot bear another and you never know the day when...." Kagome rushed him to the part of his rant where he finally calmed down. She suddenly charged at his midsection, reaching around her bear-like father as far as she could. She held onto his rumbly tummy and his barrel like chest for dear life. Few things calmed down the Lion like the embrace of his child. His stormy eyes softened and he pulled at the end of his beard. His daughter was the most precious thing in the world to him and he still saw her as an un-tested child.
"Papa...I'm sorry." Kagome whispered up toward her king's ears. She did not want to sit through the entire lecture. She would just get it the next day and the next.... It ceased to amuse him when she found herself staring into space or counting the frown lines on his forehead.
"You are not to go riding tomorrow. Or the day after." He held up his hand when she went to complain. "I want a full guard out scouring those woods. If a youkai is out there, I want him found and killed before my child goes back to her hunting!" He spat the word out like a foul taste in his mouth. Kagome held back the urge to roll her eyes and shout back. "But papa, I can lead the group to the clearing better than my guards! You know the only thing they were paying attention to was my trail.... And it started to snow a little while ago. The detachment won�t have any tracks to follow." She looked her father in the eye. One day, he would have to acknowledge her as a warrior. He frowned, understanding her logic but unhappy with what it meant. He didn�t want his daughter in danger.
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Kagome rode proudly at the head of the hunting detachment. She would have not rested until her father relented and allowed her to guide their men. She was properly outfitted, her mix of steel and white leather armor carefully stamped to show her rank. She carried a spear, as did all the men, as well as her bow and sword. The spears were an immediate first defense, a tool undeniably important to any soldier. A spear, though seemingly uncivilized, can hold one's enemy at a distance, keep something away from the horses, make for easy recognition of a messenger in the distance, and it could be thrown headlong into battle. A spear was a warrior's first reply to opposition. Kagome proudly wielded hers. Her saddlebags heavy from emergency rations and supplies, she allowed Rei to return to the place of the kill. She didn't really know the way as well as she claimed but her father would just set a soldier atop of Rei and have him lead if she had told him otherwise. Glad for her chance to be out and actually doing something for a change, Kagome wasn't about to let anyone take her place.
Her best scout and glanced overhead and frowned. There would be a snowstorm tonight. As trained, he immediately pulled out a map and rode ahead to meet the approval of the leading lady. He marked several positions for emergency shelter and the advising officer of the journey, a brash and rude old man named Juro immediately started to grumble at one of the markings. "Why in hell's name do you have the witch's home circled?" He demanded, glaring at the scout with pure hate in his eyes.
"Witch?" Kagome's eyebrows raised in question, her tone threatened a possible demotion of his comments were found to be demeaning. Juro frowned at her questioning. He didn't like women, especially women above him in rank. Where she had not proven herself in battle or topped him in years, the damn wench would always be at the upper end of command. He hated having to explain himself to a girl. "A witch lives there, only with the graces of our Lord." He turned his nose to the air. "Though why he allows such filth to reside in that cave is, however, beyond me. She prances around under the pretense of being a healer. I'd hate to think of what she's actually doing in there." Kagome glared at him and glanced behind her. A few of the soldiers apparently disagreed with him, shooting harsh glances and shaking their heads. She turned back to the old man.
"And what right have you to doubt her? Have you ever heard of her helping someone?" Kagome asked him, prodding a wolf better left alone. He scoffed at her remark, "I don't need to see her to know better...." Kagome's temper flared at his remark. "Any why not? Why does she not deserve the same respect you are given? You were handed this detachment though many of these soldiers have not seen you in combat, were you not? They do not respect you any less for it? Why should she be doubted as a healer?" Juro was old and a talented fighter, but he was not very good at politics. "Because quite frankly, she is a woman living outside the fortress on her own... how can there not be anything wrong with that?"
He had realized his mistake the moment the slight comment left his lips. A few of the soldiers leaned forward in saddle, waiting to see the traditional Lion's glare that would be sent Juro's way. In just a few short years, Kagome had mastered it, and with her soft eyes suddenly flickering with fury, she turned to the old man. Never had any of the soldiers prepared themselves for his reaction. She appeared not human of the moment and chills raced up his back. He pulled away from her a moment, fear crossing his aged face and his shoulders hunched. Every time a lord or lady of the ruling line did that...well. They appeared to not be human. One could almost see the fire running through Kagome's veins of the moment. You could hear the malice seeping from the corners of her mouth as she parted her lips in a slight hiss. Her hair caught an unexpected breeze and as she breathed, her chest had pronounced itself like a cat's breast, proud and intimidating. There was a reason the lords and ladies of the line were named after cats. With one glance, they could hold you in terror.
Fire raced through her veins but she would need Juro's cooperation in the end. She merely punished him using his own fear against him. "Meido!" She called to the scout. "If we find ourselves in the storm, make sure we stop there." She pointed to the witch's cave. Juro held on his reins a bit, falling behind to suffer her gaze no longer.
They soon came upon the clearing and several of the soldiers began to study the markings on the trees. The possibilities came through in hand signals. It was never wise to speak plans within possible ear-shot of the enemy. Knowing each and every signal to heart, Kagome quickly asked them. "Dog? Wolf? Anything of that nature?" One soldier quickly signed back to her, "Yes. Alone- however." She nodded. It fit what she saw. Several of the soldiers took the lead, knowing how their king would react if Kagome remained at the front. Juro sat up high in his seat with renewed importance. He knew that he was permitted at the front at this time. "Mistress, it is no longer necessary for you to ride with us." He smiled, feigning pleasantry. "If you'd like, and I'm sure your father would approve, you could ride back with one of the scouts and rejoin him by dinner." She did not turn to glare at him but he galloped ahead of the group, his nose in the air.
As the detachment found themselves back in front of the main vast emptiness that showed the way to God's peak, Kagome learned why a soldier was never permitted to have his nose in the air.
The group, not really paying attention, had walked right into a nightmare. A brown, hulking animal with a foaming mouth and bleeding eyes snapped to them, gazing at the group in hunger. As quickly as it took for the massive bear to realize the group was there, he quickly charged and struck his claws along Juro's horse, tearing both through the horse's hide and Juro's armor. His leg, bleeding profusely, caught in his stirrups and the old man was slightly knocked off balance. His horse panicked and began to run, with only one terrified soldier running after him. The others immediately galloped out to circle the creature, each trying to distract it from their princess. A bit shocked but otherwise unfazed Kagome boldly trotted out to get a better look at the creature. Each soldier had a spear pointed in its direction, ready to spur their mount out of the way in the event of attack. Two soldiers pulled back to shoot a few arrows into the beast. The creature's hide was so thick; it barely pushed past the first layer of fur. Rather, the shots had angered it.
While the creature was mad to begin with, fury rippled through the matted hide. He patted down the spear of one soldier that got to close and jumped in, bringing his savage, katana like claws to rip through the unsuspecting man's body. Kagome flinched in horror as she witnessed one of her own get ripped apart. Many men attempted to rush in and spear the beast in anger but the bear had whipped around, claws angry. Two more brave men fell to the beast and the it stood on it's hind legs, roaring for the world to hear. Kagome quickly saw her opportunity as a brave and seasoned soldier quickly stabbed the beast and left his spear in the creature's rear.
Kagome immediately nudged her horse in a full gallop, and she easily slid her feet out of the stirrups and onto Rei's back. Holding her spear with both arms, she leapt as her horse whipped past the disgruntled bear. The creature did not realize that while the horse went rushing past, the human came crashing down onto his skull, lodging a her spear point down into his skull. She held onto the spear and planted her boots into the creatures shoulder and chest, using the creature's size against him. To avoid any post-death reflexes, she quickly drew her katana and ripped it across the creature's neck. Her eyes flickered and her rare blue-black hair flew in the wind. She relished her kill, a savage grace and beauty entrancing each and every lithe movement she made. The bear fell to the ground, nearly on top of the princess and soaked her once pure white and silver armor in rich red blood. She turned her face away, careful to not come into contact with the creature too much. Anyone could easily tell that it was diseased.
The soldiers leapt forth from their horses, each trying to roll the bear's barely attached head off their future queen. She accepted a hand to help herself up and quickly estimated her chances of retrieving her spear. Not a single soldier spoke, save to bring her attention to the soldier that dragged a limping horse with a moaning Juro on it. Kagome quickly pressed her hand to his forehead, checking to find a fever and Meido once again gazed at the skies. She looked to him, fearful of the actions he may have to take. "How long do we have?" She asked.
"Not long enough." He replied. "Two hours at most." She grimaced. This was not enough to get a badly injured man and three bodies back to God's Peak. They would have to take shelter for the night. One soldier stripped each and every warrior of his helmet and shield, knowing what they would have to do. Unexpected tears streamed down the Lioness' cheek and she called Rei over to her. The soldier's looked on in awe as she understood what would happen next. "We ride to shelter. We leave our men to the tender hands of the storm." None argued with her, lowering their heads in respect for the fallen. Kagome wept, slightly smearing the few drops of blood she had on her cheeks. "Meido...Lead us to the healer." Ignoring Juro's groan of protest, she glanced again to the heavens. She only hoped they would have enough time.

A/N: Seems I keep having a formatting problem. If anyone finds anything that needs immediate correction, please feel free to say so. Till then- I'll keep writing. Ja Ne!

~<3
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Lady of the North