A Different World by Dandie

The War

Kagome held the reigns of the horse as she trudged along in the snow. The never ending snow. It seemed like she had been walking for forever. It was really strange wearing trousers. It seemed like she had always been warmer in her petticoats and skirts. What the hell had she done? Kagome patted the side of her horse, Ah-Un. The poor thing was freezing as well. She stopped and leaned her head against the side of his flank.

“Hopefully we will be there soon, boy.”

Two mornings ago her two brothers had been drafted into the war. She had felt helpless... Her father had already died in this stupid war. Why were they even allowed to recruit every boy? That did not seem very fair. She had ranted and raved all morning about it until her mother had sent her into her room. She could not stand the fact that they were sending her brothers to slaughter and she was not allowed to join. Woman could be just as useful as men!

She she had made a decision this morning. She was going to join too! Her brothers had plenty of extra clothes that she could use! Her mother had left a little later to go shopping and Kagome had jumped on the chance. She ran into her youngest brothers room and snatched up a couple pair of pants and several shirts. She stuffed them in her bag. She dug through the closet in the hall and found a smaller pair of men shoes... Though she knew that they would not quite fit, she had plenty of socks she could stuff in the front. Either way, she would probably she issued boots.

She had not worried to horribly about her chest... She was not very developed as it was, ripping one of the shirts she had and wrapping around her top half would have to do. No one would suspect.

So here she was, trudging through the snow with her horse, trying her hardest to stay warm as she searched for the camp. Luckily, she had already signed up and had been issued those boots she was counting on. Otherwise her feet probably would have been blocks of ice.

“Hey. Hey you?” Kagome swirled around and saw a man in a uniform watching her with amber eyes.

“Me?” Kagome cleared her throat and made her voice go deeper. “Are you talking to me?”

“No shit soldier. Where the hell do you think your going? Not trying to desert us are you?” The man looked around and she noticed that he had long white hair tied into a queue.

“Uhm, no sir. I am trying to find the camp. I was a little lost.” Kagome looked down sheepishly.

The man looked back to her and scrutinized her face. Her eyes wide, she tried not to fidget. What if he figured out that she was a girl and sent her on her way? Oh god.

“What's your name soldier?”

Kagome opened her mouth and shut it again. Why the hell had she not figured this out sooner? What was a good boy name. Oh god, Oh god.

“Soldier! Your commander asked for your name!” The man barked and she went pale. This man was her commander. Oh hell.

“My... My name is...” Hundreds of names flew through her mind in seconds, mental tendrils not hanging onto any of them. What the hell should her name be?

“Jake. My name is Jake.”

The man raised a brow.

“Just Jake? Do you not have a last name?”

Kagome decided it would probably be a bad thing to use the same last name as her brothers. They would figure out who she was in a heart beat.

“Yasha sir, My name is Jake Yasha.”

The man stared into her eyes, probably trying to find out whether or not she was lying.

“I am Captain Taisho. You will follow my orders. Now go to the camp,” He pointed in the correct direction she needed to go. “And find your bunk buddy.”

“Y-Yes, Sir!” She started to shuffle off toward the camp, feeling Captain Taisho's eyes on her back.

“And Jake!”

Kagome swung around, unused to her boy name.

“Work on that stutter.”

Kagome nodded and swung back around. Again she repeated to herself, What the hell had she gotten herself into?

***

Kagome walked into the camp and glanced around. No one else had brought a horse it looked like. She glanced at Ah-Un who snorted at her. She sort of felt bad now... Hopefully he would be alright in this weather. His fur was pretty think. The men... but mostly boys all glanced at her and looked away. In a way it saddened her that she looked so much like a boy that she could easily pass without anyone creating a fuss. But that was what she had planned on anyway.

She did not see her brothers anywhere... Nor did she see anyone that she knew. How was she supposed to know who her bunk buddy was? Was she just supposed to choose?

“Oy, boy. What's your name?” Kagome swallowed and made sure to keep her voice low.

“Jake. Jake Yasha.”

“Ah, you'll be my bunk buddy then.” The boy stuck his had out with a grin.

“I am Mirouku. Mirouku Letchar.”

Kagome's whole body shook with the strength of his handshake.

“Oh dear lord boy, you are as weak as a kitten after birth. Did your brothers teach you nothing?”

Eyes wide Kagome was afraid her cover was blown.

“I don't have no brothers,” she mumbled.

“Ah, that would explain it. Well, we will have to toughen you up, otherwise there is no way you are going to make it here.”

Kagome nodded and said nothing. She figured it would probably be best if she kept talking to a minimum.

Mirouku led her to where they were going to be camping out. It was a medium size tent. She was going to freeze to death, she knew it. But when she went inside she realized that it was actually pretty insulated.

“Mirouku... Where do you think I should put my horse?”

“Hmm... That is a good question. I would suppose by the Captain. His tent us under that tree. It might be a little better protection for him.”

Kagome glanced at where Captain Taisho's tent was. She was not sure if she wanted to confront the man again. He seemed like the one that would figure out that she is a girl. But she shrugged her shoulders. She would be stuck in this camp for however long, she could not be afraid of approaching him.

“I'll be right back,” she grumbled and headed over by the tent.

***

Sesshoumaru watched the new boy that had just joined the camp. There was something about him that seemed extremely familiar. It was as if he had met him before, or at least seen him. He shook his head. No memory came to mind of a time where he had met Jake Yasha.

Never mind that... The boy looked like he had probably never handled a gun. He had string bean arms and chicken legs. He could not be more then 16.

God he hated this war. It was seeing the young boys join the war and not know what they were getting themselves into that hurt the most.

Most were so excited to join... So excited to fight for their country. It was all just needless death. His dreams were haunted by the empty sighted eyes of all the soldiers he had seen over the years. He shook his head and sighed.

Now he would be training another troop to go to their death. He hated his job.

Sesshoumaru turned around and saw Jake coming toward him. Well, what did the young pup need now?