Found in Sand

Few Things Were Fixed in this chapter.


“Speaking”
‘Thoughts’


Chapter Twelve
Lunch

The morning was pleasant and ideal chatter filled the group there was nothing else to do, but walk and talk since Kagome had told them that they were to no longer use chakra to enhance their speed and performance. Kagome walked in front of the group with Neji at one side and Akamaru and Kiba at her other. It was amusing to Kagome knowing the reason why the ninken choose to walk at her side. She could not help but smile and give a scratch behind the ears to the cute dog.


“I have never seen Akamaru take to someone as quickly or as easily as he had taken to you.” Kiba said watching as Akamaru’s doggy tongue rolled out of his mouth in contentment while Kagome gave a thorough ear rub. The slight smile on his face was one of enjoyment watching as his best friend thoroughly enjoyed the attention bestowed upon him.


Kagome smiled at the dog then the boy “He is an inu and it is instinct that he walks nearest to me. He is a good inu.” she said the last part as she rubbed faster knowing it would increase his enjoyment of the touch.


“What do you mean?” Kiba asked he knew a lot about inu instincts being who he was, but something’s were even a lose to him. He couldn’t quiet wrap his mind around her being able to understand dogs so easily seeing as she is not an inu herself. The Inuzuka clan has a bond with their inu ninken and no one has ever been so fluent in inu language and inu body language.

What Kiba could not understand was that Kagome was not bonded with a normal inu. Inu ninken are the product of a mating between an inumata and a normal inu. Akamaru when it comes down to blood is a Halfling and this is why he grew to such a size in such a short amount of time. The youkai blood had not been breed out because they are intermixing the inu Keeping the youkai in their veins strong. While intermixing for the dogs may be ok it is obvious that it is not for the humans of the clan. Which is why the demon blood they hold had been thinned to almost nil. Akamaru probably had more skills that even he was unaware of due to the fact that his trainers had no knowledge of where he stemmed from. It would be impossible to tell where the youkai blood had come from. Akamaru was white, but he also had patches of black and while both are not strange colors for a normal inu. If the black was from the youkai in his family he would be a shadow inu youkai, but the white, the white could mean he was of a mountain type. You would never find out unless he was able to transform into his youkai form.

“Due to my rank in my pack as Alpha Female Akamaru sees me as Alpha over all. I am the Alpha Female or the Female Leader in the pack belonging to one of the inu prince’s. My Alpha would be the youngest son of the inutaisho. The only creatures who would rank over me is the inu prince’s themselves, their father or the eldest son’s mate should he have one. Last time I knew he did not which made me the highest ranking female other then Sesshomaru’s mother in the royal pack of inu. Since none of them are present that makes me in charge. In pack settings the Alpha is protected above all.” Kagome explained while still giving Akamaru his much wanted attention “Inu are also attention hogs…..aren’t they?” Kagome says the last part in a teasing tone while all the more vigorously giving him an ear scratch making his left jump as they walked.

Everyone listened and watched as Kagome interacted with Kiba and Akamaru. They could not help but chuckle as his leg began to thump under Kagome’s attention. They all had their own thoughts on the interaction of the three.

Hinata could not stop the idol feeling that arose within her the longer she watched Kagome. Kagome was powerful, smart, pretty, strong, and kind, caring, and she shone with rare innocence that Hinata could not help but want to be like. She was so happy to have this chance. No one had ever put this kind of faith in her before and it felt good to not be underestimated. Kagome believed in her and she was determined to not disappoint.

Sai watched the display emotionlessly looking at how her smile made a light in her eyes that one could not help but notice. He wondered if that was what a smile was suppose to look like. He watched as the rough around the edges Kiba responded to her antics with a warm look in his eyes and a small smile on his face. It was like her feelings of happiness were contagious.

Gai watched with his signature smile all the while thinking that it was too bad she was so young because her youthfulness was perfect to be with a youthful man like himself.

Lee watched the scene in wonder. He was so curious on what his newly discovered ’holy powers’ could do. He was ecstatic to find out that he had something that others did not. He was also happy to know that he was not lacking in chakra; it was just being used up holding his holy powers dormant. He knew that once he got a hold of his holy powers that his chakra will be usable and so will his holy powers. His dream to be the best ninja in Konoha did not seem so difficult a task anymore. He knew now that he at least stood a chance.

Kakashi could not help but notice with the rockiness of the road it was making her breast bounce and every now and again he could catch sight of the swell of her breast.

Sasuke watched Kagome in appreciation she had a nice body and she was strong. He could not stop the scathing look he sent the Hyuuga’s way as he thought about how good she would be for him and the revival of his clan. Because it would seem that Neji had already placed in the ground work seeing as how he had positioned himself right beside her. Their was also the other facts of him showing up with her when she had chosen the group then later when she arrived at the gates to leave. He had even gone so far as to help her carry her things. Sasuke knew that Neji was going to try and seduce the girl into liking him. Sasuke could tell he was succeeding in his endeavor to gain her attention, but what he could not tell was how well and if there was chance at competition.

Neji watched through the corner of his eyes as Kiba and Kagome talk while she give attention to Kiba’s ninken. He feels a strange closeness with her that he had never felt before and the want to be near her and protect her was almost tasteable. He could not understand why after all the girls he had met that she was the one to illicit these feelings in him. When she smiled one could not help but want to smile back just to watch as her eyes light brighter in her happiness. The strange thing was that it made her happier to be there and share the happiness with others. She was strange like that.

Tamari and Kankuro were not watching they were to busy arguing amongst themselves as Gaara watched the interaction. He was not happy with the way all the males flocked to her, he could see the attraction the Inuzuka felt towards Kagome and did not like it. He hated it even more the way the Hyuuga stayed so close to her like he belonged there. As the negative feelings of jealousy started to consume him the warm thrumming of the jewel began again easing his emotional distraught. He watched Kagome for a sign that she felt what he was feeling because of her connection to the jewel, but she just kept on going like she did not notice or feel him.

What Gaara did not know was even though it was a part of Kagome it was still separate of her just like with Kikyo. She could not feel what she was feeling although Kikyo housed a piece of her soul.

Naruto smiled at the antics of Kagome and Akamaru. It was so strange to him, ever since she had been released from the tama the Kyuubi had not been releasing a violent feeling in his chakra. When he would close his eyes he could swear that he could hear the happy purring of the fox. As the fox released a feeling more akin to home. He did not understand the contentment he could feel through their bond. He was so caught up with the feelings he was experiencing that he failed to notice the slight rumblings coming from this throat as he sounded his content feelings.

Kagome turned towards Naruto upon hearing the rumbling that had escaped him ‘so much like my little Shippo’ she thought sadly before shaking it off to give him a smile of his own. “So Naruto since when had you become a neko?” she asked with a chuckle as others joined in on the fun and chuckled themselves.

Naruto just noticing the purring he was allowing others to hear blushed a cherry red in embarrassment, but it was not short lived as others joined in the laughing and his blush carried down his neck and up his ears. “Shut up” he mumbled thoroughly embarrassed he had no idea where that came from. No that was a lie he knew where it came from, but how it was transferred to him he did not know. The Kyuubi’s feelings were always broadcasted through Naruto, but he never noticed due to the fact that the fox was always angry. Naruto just thought that he felt that way because of the villagers treatment of him and not because the fox’s feelings were being felt by him.


With a chuckle Kagome turned back around and continued her trek while peeking at Neji before speaking “So Neji-san tell me about this world of shinobi I have found myself in.”


Neji looked at her for a moment happy to know that she would ask him instead of the others so he started to explain all the basics. He explained how their world was separated in what they call countries and that she is in the Fire country currently which is where Konoha is located. He explained that their were really only 2 type of people and they were shinobi or civilians. He also explained how before the breakout they were almost no demon left in their world.


Kagome listened to his speech nodding every so often to show she was listening. Kagome knew it was important to know as much as she could about this new world she had landed herself in. Once she was done with her training it was her duty to travel to each village and train the new generation of Miko and houshi and if she found anyone with true promise that is not a Miko or houshi then she will train them in the way of the Taijiya, but the last remains to be seen. She had only be released from a jewel a few short hours ago it seemed and she was still unable to rest in piece. It became clear that no matter what she would always be entangled in the youkai world.


Once the sun pasted the mid mark in the sky she called the group to stop for lunch near a lake. “Kiba, Akamaru, Sai, and Lee go to the lake and catch fish. Sasuke, Kakashi, Guy, and Naruto hunt for game. Neji and I will look for fire wood. Hinata setup an area to make a fire.” Kagome ordered and everyone left to do as bid.

By the time everyone returned from their appointed tasks Kagome had a roaring fire going. It was tiring not using chakra in their travels, but still traveling in a semi fast pace. They had yet to come into contact with any youkai yet which was surprising because they all could feel them, but none would approach. It was instinct to flee in the face of such holy might knowing that the humans they could smell were not defenseless if they had such power traveling with them. Since there was no hordes near them the groups of 10 or more steered clear of the Taijiya in training.


About a half hour after they decided to stop for lunch the group found themselves sitting by a fire eating fish while talking. It was mostly light chatter until Naruto and all his genius asked a question Kagome would rather he not ask.


“Hey Kagome if you are the Alpha female to Akamaru and Kiba is obviously his Alpha male does that mean that Akamaru believes you to be Kiba’s mate?” Naruto asked he was curious about that ever since they spoke about it earlier, but had not voiced his question then because she changed the subject soon after answering Kiba.


Eyes wide Kagome looked at Naruto while Kiba blushed in embarrassment ‘leave it to Naruto to say something like that as if it were no big deal!’ all the ninja thought with varying reactions.


Kagome paused seemingly to think of what next to say or how to best explain what she wishes to say. “Inu have complex pack instincts. If Akamaru was a wild dog then he would allow no male but his Alpha near me. At least until he could smell that we had consummated our ‘relationship’ he would believe that I belonged to Kiba his Alpha male. Alpha male and the Alpha female are always mates. When inu mate it is not for love but for power and since my alpha male is no more Akamaru would believe that it is Kiba-san’s right to inherit me as his alpha female. All canines be they youkai or not have the same instinct to mate the strongest male or female to produce powerful heirs. This was something I learned the hard way.” Kagome’s eyes became dazed in memory as she recalls Kouga and his antics. With a shake of her head she clears her dazed mind and laughed a bit.


“So Akamaru does want you and Kiba to mate?” Naruto asked laughing at the now cherry blush of Kiba.


Wanting Naruto to fully understand she explains “If he was a wild inu then yes, but Naruto you are not seeing the point I was trying to make. A fox is also a canine and the instinct to seek out a strong mate is more powerful in youkai. So it goes without saying that once your instincts become more prominent you will begin making a fool of yourself to me.” Kagome laughed at Naruto’s shocked expression. Kagome peeked out the corner of her eyes to see the flushed face of Kiba and laughed a bit louder “Don’t worry Kiba-san he is not a wild inu”


Once the group was finished eating they all packed up and put out the fire before once again continuing on their journey.


“So Kagome-chan can you tell us about your travels and battles with youkai?” asked Naruto wanting to talk, he was never one for silence it bothered him. He walked faster in order to stay close behind Kagome to hear what she as going to say.


“Sure. I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I had lived a normal life I guess you would call it a normal civilian life until I was 15. It was the first time I had ever saw a youkai and did not know what it was. From the torso up she looked human, but from the torso down she looked like a bug. She had six arms and pointed teeth. Needless to say I got scared, and my fear activated my dormant holy powers. I ended up blasting four of her arms off and was deposited on the bottom of the well. When I climbed back up I was no longer on my shrine grounds instead I was in a forest.” Kagome began the story of how she ended up in the feudal era and how she met Inuyasha and the others ending with the battle of Naraku.


“What do you plan on doing now that you are free?” Naruto asked curiously wondering if she would look for any of her friends that maybe alive.


“Well first I am going to train you, but I guess if during our travels we get close to were a friend of mine use to live I may check up on them to see if they are still alive or find out what happened. I know Inuyasha is not alive any longer because he was a hanyou and he could not have lived this long, but his elder brother maybe still alive. If anyone he would be, Sesshomaru was the strongest youkai I had ever met he was at Taiyoukai standard. Taiyoukai is the equivalent of a youkai immortal. Maybe Kouga is still alive he was a mid ranked youkai, but had the potential to become Taiyoukai.” Kagome said as they walked through the forest.


“Kouga was the wolf right?” asked Naruto curiously wanting to see if he remembered correctly.


“Hai he was. Kouga fancied himself in love me and had no problem about screaming it to any who listened. It was so embarrassing he would scream “Kagome I love you” right in the middle of battle. It would piss Inuyasha off like there was no tomorrow.” Kagome finished with a slight laugh at the memory.


“K- Kagome-s sensei why have we not crossed paths with any youkai yet? I thought we would have run into them at least once and it is already noon.” Hinata asked timidly wondering why no demons have come.


“We are going around them. I will not have you face any youkai until tomorrow and then I will gage your skills. I will talk more about what you will expect tonight over the fire. I am also shielding us so rouge youkai will not be able to smell or sense us. I wanted us to be a fair distance from the village before we battle any youkai. Youkai powers can cause serious damage and will not risk harm to a village because of it.” Kagome said as she smiled at the shy girl and made note to have her loosen up a bit.


“So do you have a schedule set up in mind for training?” Lee asked from his position beside his sensei and idol.


“Yes I do. Training will begin tomorrow for everyone with the exception of Naruto, Hinata, and Lee. They’re training though easy will begin tonight.” Kagome started, but was unable to finish due to Naruto’s excitement.


“Really? What will you be having us do?” he asked excitedly.


“Well Lee and Hinata it will mostly be meditation. I want them to find their power source tonight I will explain in depth when we stop for the night. And you Naruto since you know how to call upon the youki or as you call it red chakra you will practice on how to call upon it without needing to expel all your normal chakra. You will be made to call forth and then force back it is something you will need to know how to do once I fix your seal. I wont know the individual demons powers until I actually see the demon. Kitsune have different kinds of elements they can control. Like Shippo he was a fire element kitsune, but I have seen some who could control plants and lightening even snow and such.” Kagome informed as they continued their trek through the forest.