Hello again, everyone! Yes, I do KNOW that I still owe you guys an epilogue for "The It Couple," and it's in the pipeline, I promise! I just had to get this one on paper before it started eating away at my brain. This is going to be VERY, VERY loosely based on Mulan. Emphasis on the VERY. Like, literally just that Kagome's in boy drag when she runs off to join the army to save a loved one. That's it.

This one's going to be quite a bit more mature in theme than "The It Couple," given the setting. I can definitely promise drama, though. I learned I'm pretty good at that part. :P

Wellp. Here we go again! Hope you guys enjoy it!

Oblivion

Chapter One

BIRTHRIGHTS

Thunk.

The arrow hit its target straight on, embedding itself into the tree trunk and sending a small scatter of snow fluttering from the branches.

Kagome let out the rest of the breath she'd been slowly releasing, and let herself smile with satisfaction as she relaxed her shoulders and lowered her bow. A single bead of sweat dripped down her temple.

"Every single time," her little brother moaned from his perch beside her. He clutched his own bow and quiver to his chest and gave her a look that could only be exasperation.

Kagome just looked at him and smiled, reaching over to ruffle the top of his head. "Don't worry, Sota," she said with a quiet laugh, "You'll get there the same way I did. Practice, practice, practice."

A stray lock of hair had come untangled from her loose braid, and she brushed it behind her ear, shivering slightly at the chill in the air. Both her breath and Sota's were visible clouds hanging in the air between them, and even dressed as warmly as they were, in their heaviest kimonos and hand wraps, with heavy furs draped around their shoulders, Kagome knew they were both starting to feel the cold.

"Alright," she said, clapping Sota on the shoulder and stepping back to let him take his place in line with the tree, "Shoot one more time and then we'll get you inside."

Sota, already threatening to pass her in height despite the six years' difference in their ages, slid his feet forward and planted them in the snow, taking the proper stance and nocking another arrow into his bow. A small moment of silence as he pulled the bowstring taut, and then…

Thunk.

Not quite at the target, but in the tree trunk nonetheless.

Sota sighed and seemed to allow himself a hopeful smile of his own.

"See? Much better than even last week," Kagome said, throwing her arm around his shoulders and leading him back through the edge of the forest.

She could see their house just through the mass of thick trees ahead; that was one thing her grandfather and mother always insisted on when the two left the village protection without an armed escort.

There were bad things outside the village. Everyone knew that. And so the parents warned their children to stay together, to avoid being out after dark, to never speak to strangers.

Especially to never speak to strangers.

Sota started running ahead, leaving large, heavy tracks in the inches-deep snowfall, and Kagome smiled to herself as she hoisted her quiver and bow and slung them over her shoulder casually, twisting and turning occasionally to fit through the denser areas of overgrowth.

There was a sound like the snap of a twig behind her, and Kagome whirled, fumbling for her weapon as she scanned the dimming light of the wood.

Nothing. She stood there for a moment, breathing in and out slowly and silently, her heart pounding in her chest.

And then, behind her, a friendly voice made her nearly jump out of her skin.

"Kagome!"

"H-Hojo!" she stammered, turning around and smiling, with just one brief glance back at the woods before exiting the thicket of trees and walking toward the young man standing at the edge of the clearing. "What are you doing out here?"

Hojo smiled brightly at her. He was the son of the daimyo and thus the village's most prized resident, rarely seen as he was now, out in the village without the company of bodyguards. "Your grandfather and mother invited me to dinner," he said as she reached him, and he bent to take her hand and bowed low before it.

"Did they?" Kagome said as he accompanied her through the door of the house, suddenly aware of how disheveled she must look after hours of target practice and scuffling in the woods with Souta. She brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her forehead, sure that her face was pink.

It had long been discussed among the more gossip-prone of the village that Hojo was seeking a bride before long, as befitting his place in the village hierarchy. Kagome's mother had heard that and was obviously determined that Kagome, just recently seventeen years of age and therefore ready for marriage, should be the one to snap him up before any other eligible girls could get to him.

Even though it irked Kagome some to be pushed like this, at heart she understood her mother's eagerness. Kagome's grandfather, great warrior that he had been in his day, was getting on in years, and with her father's recent sudden death, there was some worry about even a noble family such as theirs being able to survive without Kagome's marrying into a good family and easing the financial burden some.

And Hojo was...likable enough. Not interesting conversation, to be sure, but friendly conversation. When she'd mentioned as such to her mother, she'd been answered with an exasperated sigh. Apparently proper young ladies didn't concern themselves with such matters as liking their husband-to-be. Liking, and in fact, loving, was for after marriage.

"Lord Hojo!" Kagome's mother appeared and bowed gracefully. "Such an honor. Please, come in, sit down. Kagome, for goodness' sake, go and pull yourself together." She smiled at Hojo apologetically and led him further into the dining room, sending an admonishing look Kagome's way as they passed the threshold.

Sota smirked at her, and she curled her lip and smacked him upside the head as she rushed to her bedroom to clean herself up.

"Unfortunately, the situation is growing worse," Hojo was saying gravely when Kagome entered the dining room in a fresh kimono and with her face scrubbed clean, "My father is almost sure that the shogun will call for more reinforcements before the month's end. The youkai are growing bolder, more organized. They're attacking more than just traveling armies now; I hear tell that they're laying waste to entire mountain villages and burning them to the ground."

Kagome's grandfather, seated at the head of the table, merely took this information in stern silence, staring into his cup of sake and swirling it around absently. "If the shogun calls for it," he said finally, his once-gruff voice more of a whisper these days, "Then I will answer the call."

Kagome spilled some sake on her sleeve and nearly knocked her cup over. "The youkai are coming this way?" she exclaimed. "I thought they were bound to the outer lands. That truce has stood for - "

Her mother cleared her throat, and Kagome sat back sullenly, rubbing at the damp corner of her sleeve.

"You're right, Kagome. The truce has stood for nearly two decades. But it would seem your poor father's death was just the beginning, and they are doing what we should have expected from the first - breaking their word. My guess is they've eaten through all their resources and stripped their land bare, and now they want to do the same to our lands." Her grandfather leveled his gaze at her, unsmiling but obliging.

"What do they look like?" Sota asked eagerly.

"Souta, that's enough," their mother scolded, then said softly, "Surely the dinner table is no place for this sort of talk."

"They have a right to know," Grandfather said evenly, staring down into his sake again, more subdued than Kagome had seen him in ages, "Pretending it's not happening won't keep those monsters from our doorsteps."

Thank you, Grandfather.

"I heard they look like giant centipedes," Sota said through a mouthful of rice, "And they take young girls and make them have giant centipede babies!"

He looked straight at Kagome, who rolled her eyes.

"If I have a giant centipede baby," Kagome mumbled, "I'm sending it after you."

"Kagome!" Her mother glared at her, then worriedly glanced at Hojo.

Hojo wasn't smiling, just looked at Kagome solemnly. "I promise I'll never let that happen to you, Kagome. I would die to protect you."

Kagome swallowed and felt heat rush to her cheeks. She realized that for once, she had run out of things to say, and decided instead to fill her mouth with a large helping of food.

"You are too kind to us, Lord Hojo," Kagome's mother said, leaning over to refresh Hojo's cup of sake.

After a few moments of silence, Hojo spoke up again. "I suppose I should reveal the true meaning behind my acceptance of your dinner invitation tonight."

Kagome nearly choked on a mouthful of sake as she watched her mother gasp softly and place a hand over her heart.

"Kagome," Hojo said, looking at her so sincerely and so kindly from across the table, "you and I have known each other since childhood, and I'm sure you can have no doubt of the way my feelings for you have grown. I've come here tonight," and here he turned towards the rest of the family, looking at each of them in turn, "to ask your permission for Kagome's hand in marriage."

Kagome just blinked and stared, knowing she probably looked like a complete fool but unable to help it. The way his feelings for me have grown? He barely says anything but a friendly hello to me in passing!

Grandfather's expression remained unchanged as he gulped down the remainder of his drink. "If she'll have you," he said, refusing to look in Kagome's direction, "then I heartily give my blessing."

The rest of the company turned to Kagome expectantly. Her mother in particular looked to be nearly foaming at the mouth in anticipation.

"I - well," Kagome stammered, feeling her face burn with heat as she struggled to find words.

"O-Of course," Hojo interjected, seeming to sense her hesitation, "there'd be no need for us to marry right away. As tumultuous as these days are, I think it only proper to wait a while. The future's uncertain for all of us, but…" He trailed off, looking a bit flustered himself. "...but if you'll put your faith in me, Kagome, I promise to make you happy."

Kagome let herself exhale slowly, silently. Why not? It wasn't like there were other options staring her in the face. Hojo was as good a choice as any, right?

Right?

So she gave him a small smile and nodded. Hojo's smile in return was one of pure delight, and he opened his mouth to say something else -

"Lord Hojo!"

It was an urgent call from outside the house. Everyone turned to glance toward the window, where they could just see the glow of torchlight against the night sky outside. They all leapt to their feet, Hojo leading the way, and opened the front door to find a group of samurai and vassals all standing there, swords in hand, faces grim and frightened.

"Wh-what is it?" Hojo said, his face as white as a sheet, as he hurried down the steps toward the men. Kagome recognized some of them as the daimyo's most high-ranked of samurai, the ones most directly devoted to the safety of the entire ruling family.

"The shogun has summoned your father for aid. The youkai have finally crossed through the western borders and are heading this way. They've surprised us all, damn them. We must get you and your family to safety immediately."

Hojo looked about ready to collapse with fear. "What of the village?" he said haltingly.

The leader of the group of samurai grimaced and shook his head. "You are our priority right now, my lord. Your father is planning for an evacuation by dawn, but we have to get you out of here, to ensure the safety of the daimyo's house."

"Then it is happening," Kagome's grandfather said, looking more resigned and tired than afraid, "All the able-bodied men must fight."

The samurai nodded. "We're calling every man with any skill with a weapon to report to the training camp in the western woods. It will take the youkai army months to cross the territory to reach the shogun, but we must count on our enlisted men to push them back as far as possible."

"So they're bait," Kagome snapped, stepping in front of her grandfather protectively, "Cannon fodder to keep the youkai busy until they've had their fill to eat."

"They should be honored to - "

"To what? Die horribly to keep the rich men safe?" Kagome felt her voice break. "My grandfather has served his time. He owes the shogun no more of his blood."

"Kagome! Be silent," Grandfather said sharply.

Kagome just clenched her jaw and looked away, feeling a lump in her throat and a sick feeling in her stomach.

"Lord, perhaps you would prefer to remain with your family," the man in front of the group said hesitantly to Kagome's grandfather, "Your years of loyal service - "

"Our household will be represented in the coming war," Grandfather insisted through gritted teeth, "We are samurai, and to stay home and depend on others' sacrifices would be the deepest dishonor."

He turned to his daughter-in-law. "It'll be up to you to get the children to safety when it comes time for evacuation."

Kagome's mother just nodded, clutching at her throat, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I'll take you three with me," Hojo said, seeming to just remember they were all standing behind him, "Kagome, we'll get you all to safety."

"There's no time," the samurai said gruffly, "We don't have the horses to spare. Lord Hojo, you can send for them later if you wish, but we must leave now."

Hojo's hand reached out and grabbed hold of Kagome's, and he gazed at her for one brief moment, his once hopeful eyes now dull and numb. "I'll see you soon, Kagome," he said softly, "I promise." And all at once, he released her hand and was whisked off down the street by the crowd of bodyguards.

Kagome felt about ready to collapse.

"How long until they get here?" Sota asked, his childish curiosity replaced with almost frantic alarm, "How long until the monsters are here to kill us?"

Kagome's mother gave a gentle sob and took her son in her arms, holding him tightly.

Grandfather simply ushered them back in the house and slid the door shut. "Kagome," he said softly, his eyes far away, "My helmet. My armor. Go retrieve them."

"No," Kagome said, feeling a cold vice around her heart. "I won't."

He glared at her, though the expression was more pained than truly angry. "I am bushi," he said, "Like my father before me. Like my son, your father. I will not die without our house spilling blood in this war."

Kagome held the furious gaze for what seemed like forever, until she felt herself crumple and the tears began spilling as she rushed out of the room.

Kagome sat in the dim light of the armory, carefully removing each individual piece of her grandfather's armor from the ornate chest it was housed in. Her vision was still clouded with angry tears.

She realized that right now she was feeling that loathing of youkai that always seemed so ingrained in the minds of the village elders. Youkai had never truly frightened her, not even as a child. They had intrigued her, if anything.

But now? She was certain of it, she hated them. All of them. They were the reason her grandfather would die for nothing.

He probably won't even be able to hurt one before he's cut down, she thought bitterly, feeling simultaneously ashamed of herself and relieved at being able to think freely.

"Kagome, child."

She jumped. "Where's Mother? And Sota?"

"I sent them to bed. They were both hysterical."

No surprise there. Kagome felt a little hysterical herself.

She felt an old, wrinkled hand settle on her shoulder just as her fingers reached into the chest and closed around two sword scabbards. One, she knew, was her grandfather's, and the other…

"Your father's," Grandfather supplied gently, using her for more than a little support as he grunted and struggled to kneel on the floor next to her. Kagome felt the lump in her throat swell up again. You can barely even move, she thought with frustration, you'll never stand a chance in battle against vicious monsters.

"He was a better warrior than I'd ever seen," her grandfather mused, reaching out to take the red-banded katana from her hands and looking it over wistfully, "I was a very proud father, I must say. The proudest moment? He once returned from an almost-certain suicide mission in the last youkai war, with every last man still alive and mostly unharmed. He cared more for his men than he did himself." The smile he gave was crooked and genuinely fond.

"So did you," Kagome said softly, pleadingly, "And now we need you."

Grandfather just shook his head and chuckled. It frightened her, how at peace with his decision he looked. He should be furious. He should be at least mournful.

"I may be old, Kagome," he said, "but I'll be glad to die knowing I helped the daimyo and the shogun defeat the oncoming evil."

You won't help defeat anything. It'll just be a waste. A waste of a life. Another unmarked grave somewhere in the wilderness. Kagome furrowed her brow and chewed on her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Alright then," the old man said, handing the sword back to Kagome and turning away toward the chest of armor again, "Let's get all this sorted and get me on my way. The earlier I set out, the better."

Kagome wasn't sure what made her do it. What sort of devil had possessed her. But suddenly she felt like she was out of her own body, that she was moving and speaking but not of her own accord.

"You're right," she said, a little too cheerily, "I'll go get us some tea, and while I'm at it I'll pack you some supplies."

Her grandfather grunted in agreement as he blew a cloud of dust off of a leather breastplate and worked to rub it clean with the sleeve of his hakama. He didn't look up as Kagome tiptoed back out of the room and down the hall.

Not into the kitchen like she'd said.

But into Sota's room.

Her brother had chosen to sleep in their mother's chamber tonight, clearly out of fright. Kagome didn't blame him. She was scared out of her wits too.

But the fear didn't stop her from shakily gathering a handful of Sota's clothing and stuffing it into a travel pack.

Nor did it stop her from rushing to the stables and saddling the horse, careful not to make a sound as she led it to the front step and tied it in place.

Kagome returned to the kitchen, still completely stunned by what she was doing, and prepared the tea as promised, then returned to the armory with a tray as if nothing were amiss.

Grandfather smiled and took the cup eagerly and set her to work preparing the armor for travel, strapping it all together in one large bundle to attach to the saddle. When the work was done, he asked her kindly to go and ready the horse, and so she took the armor and the swords and rushed outside, knowing he'd be too slow to follow.

When she poked her head back inside the armory, she found him on the floor, still and silent. He'd be out for a good twenty-four hours, with the amount of sleeping herbs she'd given him. Tearfully, she placed a kiss to his wrinkled old forehead, said a small prayer to no god in particular, and rushed out of the house.

Grandfather...Mother...Sota...Hojo. Forgive me. Clearly I've gone insane.

Still in her silk dinner kimono, with her hair streaming wildly behind her, she jumped atop her grandfather's horse and took off at a full gallop, heading for the trail that could take her through the western woods.

"It's begun."

Inuyasha looked up in mild surprise at his older brother entering the tent. "What?"

Sesshomaru's face was expressionless, as usual. "Naraku's sent the wolf tribe to start the push into the western lands. Or do you not know why we're here in the first place?"

Inuyasha's ears, white and dog-like atop his head, twitched in annoyance. "I know why," he snapped, sitting up in his bedroll and shaking himself awake, "I'm not a child."

Sesshomaru sniffed, the closest Sesshomaru ever came to a laugh of derision.

"I just meant I didn't think he'd be moving them so soon," Inuyasha grumbled, stretching his arms over his head and cracking his back. "I was getting some much-needed sleep."

He felt a prickle on the back of his neck and growled. Always staring at me like I'm a fool, he thought. "Something on your mind, Sesshomaru?"

"You seem a little hesitant to do your duty, little brother," Sesshomaru said, a hint of malice in his voice, "Could it be you feel the pull of the human half of your blood - "

"I know what I have to do," Inuyasha snapped, pulling on his haori and tying it in place, "And I'm not hesitant about any of this. I want the same thing you do. I want our father's lands back. Just like we were promised. I want the humans gone."

He knew he sounded bitter. He was tired of defending himself to absolutely everyone. Everyone was questioning him, everyone was looking at him with either distrust or outright venom.

"Keep that in mind," Sesshomaru said mildly. "You know your part of the plan is vital to ensuring our continued success in this campaign. And your...heritage, unfortunate as it may be, is what makes it possible."

"I understand," Inuyasha ground out, wanting the subject of his birth to be permanently closed but knowing that was too much to ask. With an angry sigh, he stood from his bedroll and reached for his katana, ready to strap it to his waist.

"Wait," Sesshomaru said, stepping forward and holding out another sword, one much more ornate and well-made. "Take this one."

"Tetsusaiga?" Inuyasha stared down in disbelief.

"The battle sword of Inu no Taisho," Sesshomaru said evenly, "Perhaps it will serve as a reminder of our purpose here. The reason we are allied with others of our kind to retrieve the lands we lost so many decades ago."

"Our birthright," Inuyasha said softly, his hand closing around the scabbard and taking it from Sesshomaru's outstretched hand.

"Get it done," Sesshomaru said, turning to leave, but not before tossing a small leather pouch at him.

Inuyasha caught it in midair and stared down at the pouch for a moment.

His clawed hand clenched into a fist around it.

Soooo...what do you think? Please let me know! This is quite a different vibe for me, but it's fun to try something new once in a while. I'm looking forward to these new incarnations coming into their own! Hopefully you guys feel the same! Laters! -meggz0rz