There was one obstacle to conquering the mountain range that, in the time of Koshirou’s great-grandfather, had once belonged to the Tatsumi clan. A range which Kagome saw as Yahiko’s ancestral holdings by rights.

It was an obstacle that had thus far prevented the range from being recaptured against the Hiromi clan who held it from the opposing side. This obstacle was a youkai clan, who occupied the forested foothills at the base of the range. Small but pernicious, this clan of sorcerous youkai had moved in about a century ago when cursed blood had tainted the land after repeated battle, opening chasms into the earth and rifts into the immortal realm—

Or so Hirokin informed her, around the mouthful of toe he’d been sucking balefully at her degrading command.

“Well, tell those youkai to either make way or clear out,” Kagome said as she wrenched her foot free and rose from the ledge. Pulling her robe about her, she stepped dripping from the spring-fed bath. “I need my army to reach the mountain pass unimpeded. Half the spies I’ve sent to scout out the range haven’t come back. Trespassers, in these demons’ view—yeah, I get it. But I can’t afford to suffer heavy casualties like that before even laying siege to the castle.”

Hirokin sighed, realizing the mood had been ruined. “I’m afraid it’s not so simple, Kagome-sama. Those youkai have blood-rights to the land, and will not forsake it without blood.”

“Then I’ll give them blood,” Kagome said lowly, “if it comes to that.”

“It would be better to negotiate,” Hirokin returned placidly, drifting across the dark steaming surface to her. “Perhaps a blood-oath could be forged instead.”

Kagome shook her head, her reiki railing at the mere suggestion. “I don’t want to have such dealings with the likes of them. The only reason I’ve left them be is because they haven’t committed any offenses in the Tatsumi region.”

…If only, she thought darkly.

“Precisely,” Hirokin said, his eyes glittering as if reading such murderous thoughts right off her stormy face. “If you oust them by force, my lady, without just cause, it will be perceived as an act of open aggression.”

Neither of them needed to voice just who would perceive it as such. Stalking back and forth along the stony edge of the bath, Kagome glared ahead, debating her options. Of course Sesshoumaru would just love for her to lash out at his subjects. He’d practically baited her to, and it was for that very reason Kagome was reluctant to do so.

She’d be damned if she proved him right, let alone played into his heavy hand.

“This blood-oath,” she said through gritted teeth, “what does that entail, exactly?”

“A favor,” Hirokin answered, “to be called in by the clan in due course. Shape the limits as you will, my lady, and I will see if they accept—in exchange for safe passage for your folk.”

With that, Hirokin snapped off a crystal from the glittering ornaments that sparkled in his spun-silver hair. Taking the crystal, Kagome debated a moment more, before grimly swiping the pad of her thumb along the razor edge. A bead of blood welled up. Closing her eyes briefly, she shaped the boundaries of the favor—obviously, anything that would harm herself or the people of Tatsumi was off the table.

The bead trickled into a well in the crystal. Kagome watched as it continued to fall through the glassy interior of the gem, strangely and wisping, like a drop of red dye into water. She handed the crystal back to Hirokin, who received it mildly.

A few days later, as Saigo Isami’s army was preparing to march into the dreaded foothills, the men’s worst fears were allayed. To all those bearing the dogwood-flower insignia of the Tatsumi clan, the dark forested slopes remained open and clear.

The night before, Hirokin had returned to Kagome and said merely, with a shadow of smile, “They accept.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi