United in Battle

Chapter 7

The little fox demon hugged the small human girl standing next to him in front of a good dozen different beings. A small green being that reminded him of Jaken stepped toward the two children.

"Safe here you are." Master Yoda extended a hand to Rin.

"Master Yoda is right. Your friend, Koga, said that your other friends were captured." Master Mace Windu pressed the tips of his fingers together. "We will keep you safe until Koga returns for you."

"Yes, Sir." Shippo let his arm drop from around Rin before bowing to the Jedi. "Rin and I will behave."

One of the women stepped forward. "Come along, Shippo, Rin. I'll take you to your quarters." Adi Gallia held out a hand to each of the children.

Shippo grabbed her left hand while Rin took her right. Together they left the Jedi council. The children watched as they passed young Padawans bowing to Adi.

"Why do they do that?" Shippo watched two teenagers bowed to them.

"They bow out of respect. I am a Jedi Master and they are Padawans learners." Adi stopped as two Padawans hurried toward her.

"Master Gallia, there is a problem in the kitchens." The alien teenage boy bowed quickly.

"What is it, Nemo?" Adi handed Shippo and Rin to the human girl standing beside her.

"There is some kind of creature destroying the kitchens, Master Gallia." The girl didn't take the hands of the two children.

"Very well. Nemo, you will take me to the kitchens. Kimberly, go and tell the rest of the Council. Shippo and Rin, you'll come with me." Adi began to run down the corridor.

Shippo scrunched up his emerald green eyes. "Transform!" The cloud of smoke cleared to reveal a funny looking horse. "Climb on, Rin."

"Okay, Shippo." Rin scrambled onto his back.

They raced after Adi. Rin jumped from Shippo's back as he skidded to a halt in the kitchens. Shippo changed back to his regular form. They heard a roaring coming from the kitchens.

"Rin, you'd better stay here with these Jedi." Shippo raced into the kitchens.

A cat-like creature hissed and swatted at the Jedi gathering around it. Shippo slipped through their legs. He heard a soft mewling sound. Mama! Help!

"Look out for its paw!" Adi jumped back as the cat-creature swiped at her growling. Stay away from my young!

"She's got a litter!" Shippo jumped onto Adi's shoulder.

"How do you know, Shippo?" Adi flipped to the right as the creature lunged at her and Shippo.

"I heard them over there." Shippo pointed to a cabinet behind the creature. "She thinks we're going to hurt her babies."

"Do you think you can calm her down enough for us to get her and her babies out of here?" Adi watched several Padawans avoid the claws.

"I can try." Shippo swallowed hard as he started toward the creature. "Uh...hi."

The creature hissed slightly. Why do they attack a mother?

"They didn't know that you are a mother." Shippo knelt next to the creature. "They were trying to protect the other young ones here." Shippo watched the creature lay down beside him.

Her purring could be heard throughout the kitchen. I thought this room was abandoned. I am sorry if I hurt anyone.

"That's okay. We would like to help move you and your babies to some place safe." Shippo started to pet her head.

I cannot leave. I am being hunted.

Shippo nodded as Rin stuck her head in the door. "Is it safe, Shippo?"

"Yeah, Rin." Shippo motioned Rin over to him before he turned back to the giant cat-creature. "This is my friend Rin. She'll stay with you while I talk to the Jedi."

Okay. The cat-creature purred as Rin petted her head.

Shippo hopped over to Adi, Yoda, and Master Windu. "She thought the Jedi were going to hurt her babies. She also thought that the kitchens were abandoned."

"Will she let us move her and her babies?" Adi knelt down to Shippo's level.

"She says that she's being hunted." Shippo looked over at the cat-creature and Rin. "Can't we find somewhere else here for her and her babies?"

Yoda nodded. "Find her a place we will."

"But where?" Master Windu barely heard Adi talking to Shippo.

"How could you understand her, Shippo?" Adi glanced at Rin petting the large cat-creature.

"She's like Kirara, who's a fire cat demon. I'm the only one who can really understand her since I'm a full demon too." Shippo shrugged slightly. "I'm guessing that's how I can understand her."

"Decided we have." Yoda leaned on his staff.

"Yes. Since Shippo seems to be able to understand her, the creature and her younglings will stay in Shippo's quarters." Master Windu bowed as Shippo moved over to the cat-creature.

Shippo petted the creature's head. "You're going to stay in my quarters."

The cat-creature purred. Thank you, my friend. She climbed to her feet and nudged open the cabinet. Inside were four tiny kittens. These are my young.

"They're adorable." Shippo knelt and scooped up one of the kittens.

Rin crawled up to the kittens and scooped up two of the kittens, reveling in their soft fur. "They're so soft."

Adi smiled as she knelt next to Rin. "Allow me to help you, Rin." Adi scooped one of the kittens from Rin's arms. She rubbed her cheek against the kitten's soft fur. "You're right. They are soft." Adi climbed to her feet as the mother cat-creature picked up the last kitten. "Let's get them to their new home."

Shippo, Rin, and the cat-creature followed Adi from the kitchens.

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Sessho-Maru pulled Tori close as she yawned. Inu-Yasha growled slightly at the fidgeting Koga. Miroku leaned back in his chair trying to get a better look at Padme when Remus kicked the back legs of the chair making Miroku fall over backwards.

"Lecherous monk." Inu-Yasha snorted as Miroku climbed back to his feet.

"Can't even keep your eyes to yourself, you pervert?" Padme walked behind Miroku and slapped the back of his head. "The Queen disapproves of such behavior. Try to remember that the next time your eyes and hands decide to wander again."

Koga glanced out the window and watched the dying storm. "Shmi, I'm going to head home."

"That's fine, Koga." Shmi picked up the stack of dishes. "I guess I need to figure out sleeping arrangements."

"Perhaps I can help." Koga climbed to his feet. "I can take some of them to my place."

"Which ones?" Tori snuggled closer to Sessho-Maru.

"How about Inu-Yasha, Miroku, Remus, and Sessho-Maru?" Qui-Gon pressed his fingertips together.

"I do not go anywhere without my mate." Sessho-Maru's golden eyes narrowed slightly at Qui-Gon.

"Great. That means the bitch id going with us." Inu-Yasha ducked as Tori took a swing at him.

"Well, if we're going, let's go." Remus climbed to his feet yawning. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm exhausted."

"I agree with Remus." Tori stretched slightly as Sessho-Maru started to lift her into his arms. "I can walk, thanks." She climbed to her feet.

Miroku bowed to Shmi slightly. "The meal was delicious."

Koga moved toward the door. "Let's go."

The door slid open and Koga stepped out into the dying wind. Remus walked behind Anakin's chair and ruffled his hair. Padme gave Tori a quick hug as Miroku and Inu-Yasha followed Koga outside. Sessho-Maru followed Tori to the door.

"We'll see everyone on the morning." Tori waved to Qui-Gon, Padme, Shmi, and Anakin.

Qui-Gon nodded slightly as Sessho-Maru led Tori out into the slight wind. Koga turned slightly and nodded as the door slid closed. Koga walked close to Tori.

"Why did you bring Rin with you, Koga?" Remus glanced around darkening spaceport.

"I snuck aboard one the ship after the droids carried Inu-Yasha and the others on the ship." Koga shrugged slightly. "I would have left the kids to fend for themselves if Rin hadn't been crying. Her tears were what swayed me to bring them. The ship landed on Coruscant first so I immediately took the kids to the Jedi Temple thinking that it was a shrine. I didn't know that it was a place of learning. I asked the Jedi there to take care of the kids and hurried back to the ship. Then we landed on this forsaken rock. I thought this was the last stop so I climbed off."

"Then the ship took off without you." Inu-Yasha snorted. "Just like a wolf. Thinking before acting."

"Well if I hadn't been thinking you mutts wouldn't be able to contact your pups when we get to my place." Koga hurried ahead of them slightly.

Tori grabbed Miroku's staff and raced after Koga. She started to beat the wolf demon over his head. "If you ever call Sessho-Maru a mutt again, I'll beat the ever loving crap out of you!"

She's starting to win me over." Inu-Yasha smirked slightly as Miroku tried to grab his staff from her. "Now I think she'll make the perfect mate for my brother."

"Maybe you can convince her to give me my staff back." Miroku crossed his arms angrily as Tori continued to pounded Koga with the staff.

"Give me a sec, Miroku." Tori slammed the staff against Koga's head while her left foot kicked him in the middle of his back. "I suggest that you keep your comments to yourself, you stupid wolf!"

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Koga rubbed the rather large lump forming on the back of his head. "That hurt!"

"Good." Tori tossed Miroku his staff. "Just remember this, you emaciated wolf. When you insult Sessho-Maru, you insult me and you insult Rin!"

Koga rubbed the middle of his back. "I got it with the first hit." He stopped before a door and placed a hand on a scanner beside the door. "Can't be too careful." He moved to one side as the door slid open. "Welcome to my humble home."

Miroku and Remus stepped through the door first to make sure no one was waiting to ambush them. Miroku motioned for the others to come in. Sessho-Maru allowed Tori to enter the building first before he turned to Koga.

"Allow me to re-enforce my mate's statement." Sessho-Maru's claws started to drip some poison.

"Got it." Koga bowed as Sessho-Maru moved through the door. Man did I make him mad.

Remus looked around the room for a moment before turning to Koga, who had just stepped into the room. "How do we contact our friends?"

"Over here." Koga moved to a control panel. "We'll contact Kagome first."

Tori watched as Koga pushed several buttons.

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Kagome heard a slight buzzing before someone shook her shoulder. Ginta was kneeling beside her.

"We have a message coming in, Sister Kagome." Ginta moved slightly to reveal the hologram forming behind him.

Kagome rubbed her eyes as she climbed from her bed. She looked at the hologram before squealing. "INU-YASHA! You're alive!"

"Yeah, I'm alive." Inu-Yasha smiled as Kagome dropped to her knees crying. "Come off it. You don't have to be upset now."

"Oh, Inu-Yasha, sit!" Kagome watched as the hologram slammed into the ground.

Miroku laughed in the background as Inu-Yasha climbed to his feet. "I guess I deserved that, huh?"

Kagome reached out toward the hologram. "Are you okay, Inu-Yasha?"

"Yeah. I guess I finally realized how much I love you." Inu-Yasha turned to the snickering people behind him. "Knock it off, Sessho-Maru. You have your mate and Kagome's mine." Inu-Yasha's hologram turned back as a woman attached herself to his side.

"Let me see." Tori's hologram gazed down at Kagome. "You dog, she's cute."

"Get off, Tori." Inu-Yasha shoved Tori toward Sessho-Maru. "Keep her under control."

"I like her." Kagome giggled slightly. "Have you heard from Shippo and Rin?"

"Not yet but Koga said they're safe. We also know that they're being taken care of." Inu-Yasha shrugged. "We'll be talking to them in a bit."

"How?" Kagome glanced over at Jaken who was frowning slightly.

"We're traveling with two Jedi. Master Qui-Gon says that the Jedi Masters at the Temple will take care of them." Inu-Yasha turned to the others. "I best get going. We've got a few more contacts to make before we can rest for the night."

"Give the children a hug and a kiss from me." Kagome watched the hologram shimmer and disappear. "They're all safe."

"Now ye can rest, child." Kaede watched as Kagome crawled back to her bed.

Ginta took up his position beside the door while Hakkaku and Ayame went back to patrolling the village. Kagome drifted off into a restless sleep.

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Veronica pushed her dark hair away from her sweaty cheek. She straightened her gloves as she turned back to her punching bag. Stupid rat! Her fist hit the bag with each word. Moron! Idiot! Coward! Wimp!

"Miss croft! We're getting another transmission." Arthur Weasley raced into the room.

Veronica caught the bag moments before it hit Arthur. "I'm coming." She grabbed at towel from the bench and wiped her face. "Is it that Koga fellow again?"

"Believe it or not, I think it is Remus Lupin." Arthur stopped in the middle of the corridor as Veronica turned into a lioness. I owe Minerva a galleon.

Lioness raced down to the dungeons. The door to the room where they were keeping the droid swung open and Lioness jumped past Ted Tonks.

The hologram of Remus laughed when he saw Lioness jump over Ted and skid to a halt. "I wanted to talk to Veronica not Lioness."

In mid-stride, Veronica changed back to her human form. "I should be so pissed at you and the guys but thank Merlin that you're safe. Where are James, Sirius, and Lily? Are they alive too?"

"They're fine. They stayed on the ship while a group of us went to get parts. You do know that Lily will get to complain plenty when she finally sees you again." Remus shoved a clawed hand from his shoulder. Knock it off, Inu-Yasha."

"I just want to see the kind of woman you think you can get." Inu-Yasha shoved Remus away slightly and stared at Veronica. "Whoa! You caught her?" He looked over at Remus before turning back to Veronica. "Damn you're good."

"Remus, get him away from there." Veronica's grey eyes started to flicker to violet.

"Great! Now she's pissed at me." Remus leaned back as he tried to shove Inu-Yasha out of the hologram. "Sessho-Maru, could you please keep him under control?"

Veronica watched as another clawed hand with purple stripes grabbed Inu-Yasha by the color of his kimono and hauled him out of the hologram. "Thank you to whoever did that."

Sessho-Maru stepped into the hologram and bowed to Veronica. "You are welcome." He stepped out just as quickly.

"Tell me what happened, Remus."

"I'm not really sure myself. You were at work and I seceded to visit Hogwarts with the rest of the gang. We were walking down to the lake when we were attacked." Remus shrugged slightly. "We tried to fight as much as possible. Peter managed to transform and got away. The rest of us were trying to get to the forest but were captured instead."

"Don't get me started on the coward you guys call a friend." Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What did you do to him?"

"I'm telling you until I see James and Sirius and you guys can all decide whether or not I want to far." Veronica smiled mischievously.

"I don't want to know." Remus dug the palms of his hand into his eyes. "I really don't want to know."

"I didn't hurt him...much." Veronica's smile seemed to grow with each word.

Remus grimaced as he imagined a rat trying to run from a lioness. "Ho deep did your claws go?"

"I swear I never touched him, Moony." She fluttered her eyelashes. "I just terrified him."

Remus rolled his eyes as he shook his head. "James and Sirius have really rubbed off on you."

"Why thank you, darling." Veronica gave him a brilliant smile. "Look I'm sure your friends are wanting to contact their families as well so I'll let you go. Give James, Sirius, and Lily a hug and a kiss from me."

"I'll hug James and Sirius but I won't kiss them." Remus leaned closer to Veronica. "Never forget that I love you."

"I love you more." Tears raced down Veronica's cheeks as the hologram shimmered and disappeared.

Veronica fell to her knees on the cold stone dungeon floor just as Dumbledore stepped into the room. He saw her curl up into a ball and begin to rock.

"I trust they are well." He knelt next to Veronica.

"They're alive." Veronica looked into his twinkling blue eyes a moment before she flung herself into his arms. "They're alive and making new friends."

"I believe you should go and get some sleep." Dumbledore helped her from the floor and supported her as they left the room.

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Chief Raider turned a page of the file that Garry Penn had given him from the droid. He pulled off his reading glasses as his phone buzzed. He rubbed his eyes and reached for the intercom button.

"Chief, we got another message coming in on the droid." Garry Penn's voice floated out of the intercom.

"I'm on my way." Chief Raider tossed his glasses down onto the desk. That Koga fellow must have gotten some more information.

Chief Raider hurried from his office and down the stairs to the lab. He shoved his way past Alicia Duncan and Stuart Grissom.

"Good God, Chief! Just shove everyone out of the way. I figured you would miss me but not enough to hurt everyone else on the force." The hologram of Tori held her stomach as she laughed.

Chief Raider skidded to a halt. "Tori?" He watched as a man, with a fluffy boa thrown over his shoulder and purple stripes on his cheeks, stepped up behind Veronica. "Who is that guy?"

Tori turned her head slightly as Sessho-Maru laid a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, him. He's Sessho-Maru and he's harmless...mostly." Tori smiled brightly.

"Where have you been?" Chief Raider barely flinched when Sessho-Maru growled at him.

"We were taken on board that ship. I was thrown in a cell with Sessho-Maru and a bunch of others." Tori cleared her throat slightly. "We managed to escape with two Jedi. We got down to a planet and escaped from there as well." Tori shrugged slightly as Sessho-Maru nuzzled her neck.

"So you've been safe?" Chief Raider nodded at Sessho-Maru.

"Yeah. What with Sessho-Maru being overprotective, his brother being a jackass, and everyone else working together, we're all safe." Tori smiled broadly.

"I take it you're going to take your vacation time?" Garry grinned from behind Grissom.

"Why should I, Penn? Technically, I'm still working, aren't I?" Tori glanced over at Chief Raider. "Isn't that right, Chief?"

"Yeah, I guess so, Tori. You're not going to get hazard pay." Chief Raider smiled lopsidedly as Sessho-Maru growled at him. "You got a problem with that, boy?"

"I am Lord Sessho-Maru, Lord of the Western Lands..."

"And he's no boy." Tori rolled her eyes slightly. "I did that, too."

"Did what?" Chief Raider glanced back at Tori.

"Called him a boy. Trust me, Sir, he's all man." Tori's giggles faded into a moan as Sessho-Maru nuzzled her neck and licked at the mark on her shoulder.

"Maybe they should get a room?" Garry turned to Chief Raider.

Tori rolled her eyes slightly. "I've got to go, Chief. We've got to make one last call tonight."

"Before you go, have you seen that Koga fellow who's been contacting us?" Chief Raider leaned back against Garry's desk.

"Yes, sir. We're staying at his place while we repair our ship." Tori smiled slightly. "You want to send him a message, Chief?"

"Just tell him to help keep you safe." Chief Raider watched Tori nod a second before the hologram shimmered and disappeared.

"Well, Chief, looks like Tori's found herself a man." Garry smiled when he saw Chief Raider's left eyebrow twitch slightly.

Alicia giggled as Stuart turned his laugh into a cough. "I'll give her this much. She caught a really cute one."

Stuart laughed even harder. "From what I've read, demons from that time period mark their mates. And Tori had a doozy of a mark on her neck."

Chief Raider slammed his way out of the lab causing the other three officers to laugh.

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Rin stuck her head out the door and looked both directions before sneaking from her room. She hurried past three doors before stopping. "Shippo." Her voice barely carried but the little fox demon had heard her.

Shippo's door swung open to reveal a half-asleep fox demon rubbing his eyes. "What's wrong, Rin?"

"I couldn't sleep." Rin bowed her head slightly.

"Come in, Rin." Shippo moved to one side and Rin slipped into his rooms.

Why is Rin awake, Shippo? The cat-creature purred as Rin curled up beside her.

"She couldn't sleep, Kitty." Shippo yawned as a knock sounded on the door. Shippo rolled his eyes as he went to the door.

Adi Gallia was smiling as the door opened. "I am sorry to wake you, Shippo, but we are receiving a message for you and Rin."

"Rin!" Shippo half-turned as Rin climbed back to her feet. "Koga is contacting us."

"Yeah!" Rin hugged Shippo before hugging Adi. "May we go and speak to him now, Master Gallia?"

"Of course, dear." Adi led the children down the corridor.

They stepped into the communications center and Rin squealed when she saw the hologram.

"Lord Sessho-Maru! Master Koga has found you!" Rin danced in place slightly.

Sessho-Maru smiled softly making Shippo jump behind Adi. "Hello, Rin. I trust you are behaving yourself."

"Yes, milord." Rin bowed slightly.

Sessho-Maru turned to Adi and bowed slightly. "Are you Master Yoda?"

"No, I'm Adi Gallia. Did you want to speak with Master Yoda, Lord Sessho-Maru?" Adi bowed slightly to the demon lord.

"Yes." Sessho-Maru watched her leave before looking down at Shippo and Rin. "You are both safe there?"

"Yes, sir." Shippo started to blink furiously, trying to keep the tears back.

"Good. Rin, I want to introduce someone to you." Sessho-Maru stepped slightly to the side as Tori stepped into the hologram.

Tori knelt so that she was on Rin and Shippo's level. "Hi, Rin. I'm Tori."

Sessho-Maru looked down at Tori and glanced over at Rin. "She is to be my mate, Rin."

"Does that make her my new mother?" Rin looked up at Sessho-Maru.

"Yes." Sessho-Maru laughed as Rin started to dance around in circles.

"I have a mommy and daddy!" Rin clapped a hand over her mouth as she stared at Sessho-Maru.

"You may call me 'daddy' if you wish, Rin." Sessho-Maru smiled softly as a warm feeling flooded through him.

Tori glanced over at the silent crying young demon. "We also have a surprise for you, Shippo." She gracefully climbed to her feet and stepped out of the hologram.

Inu-Yasha stumbled into the hologram, since Tori had pushed him into the hologram. "Hey, Shippo."

"Inu-Yasha!" Shippo started to jump in place. "Are Kirara, Sango, and Miroku with you?"

"Miroku's here with me. Sango and Kirara are back on the ship." Inu-Yasha knelt down to look into Shippo's eyes. "Kagome told me to tell you that she loves you." Inu-Yasha climbed to his feet. "We'll get to Coruscant once the ship's repaired."

Shippo nodded while Yoda and Adi stepped into the room. "I understand."

Yoda stepped closer to the hologram of Inu-Yasha and Sessho-Maru. "Lord Sessho-Maru." Yoda bowed to the demon lord.

"I am. I trust that you are Master Yoda." Sessho-Maru bowed slightly.

"I am." Yoda looked up into the demon lord's golden eyes.

"I thank you for caring for Rin." Sessho-Maru locked his eyes with Yoda's.

"Thanks for taking care of Shippo, too." Inu-Yasha bowed slightly.

"Welcome you are." Yoda nodded once as he turned to face Inu-Yasha. "Grateful we are."

Yoda nodded again as Adi stepped forward. "The children helped with a small situation yesterday."

Tori stepped in front of Inu-Yasha and Sessho-Maru. "Are they okay?" She started to reach for Rin and Shippo.

"They're fine. Shippo managed to calm a cat-creature enough so that we could move her and her kittens from the kitchens." Adi smiled softly at Shippo and Rin, who were standing a bit straighter.

Sessho-Maru gave a soft smile to Shippo and Rin. "They have learned well."

"We need to go but you kids behave yourselves." Tori blew each of them a kiss. "We'll see you once we repair the ship."

"A question to ask we have." Yoda placed a withered hand on Shippo's shoulder.

Adi placed a slender hand on Rin's shoulder. "We would like the children t train with the Padawans until you arrive for them."

Any training you can give to them will be of help when we finally return home." Sessho-Maru bowed slightly as Tori and Inu-Yasha followed his example.

"Good. They will begin in the morning." Adi bowed slightly.

Sessho-Maru looked over his shoulder and nodded once. "We must go."

The hologram shimmered slightly before disappearing completely. Yoda led them from the room.

"Trouble with sleep you have, Rin?" Yoda looked up into the little girl's dark chocolate eyes.

"Yes, sir." Rin bowed her head. "I travel with Lord Sessho-Maru and usually sleep against Ah-Un, his dragon."

"Do you wish to stay with Shippo in his rooms?" Adi gently lifted Rin's chin's to gaze into her eyes.

"Yes, please." Rin gave her a brilliant smile.

"We'll move everything in the morning for you. You may finish the night with Shippo." Adi bowed to Yoda before he made his way back to his rooms.

Shippo and Rin followed Adi back to Shippo's rooms. She lifted each of the children onto the large bed and covered them with the covers.

"Master Adi, could you tell us a story?" Shippo yawned slightly as Rin snuggled up to him.

Adi sat on the edge of the bed. "I will tell about the destruction of the Sith." She cleared her throat. "A thousand years ago the Jedi were at war with Dark Jedi known as the Sith. They fought amongst themselves because they each wanted the power of being the leader." She glanced down at the sleeping children. "And that was the destruction of the Sith." She carefully climbed to her feet and moved silently to the door only stopping once to pet Kitty and her four tiny kittens.

She smiled as she looked back at the children huddled together and sleeping peacefully. Kitty gently lifted each of the kittens onto the bed before jumping up there herself to guard her young friends. Adi slipped from the room leaving the children to sleep in peace.