Family Ties
Hey, everybody, it's me again! Yep, it's yet another Inuyasha story! I know you don't like reviewing, because most of you are lazy, but please take the time to write something. I need improvement, everyone does, and I like knowing my work is appreciated, too. So please, review this story!
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. But I do own Yuniko, as she is my own character.
Chapter One: Enter the Hanyou
Nighttime in the little village near Inuyasha's Forest, a scant few hours before Kagome was supposed to visit. But she came through the well early that night…
It was very dark outside, save for the dim light of the waning crescent moon. Inuyasha woke suddenly from a sound sleep. He could smell Kagome from his tree, on the other side of the village. More than her usual scent, though, he smelled fear.
"What the—oh, no." There was another scent, too. Strangely enough, it wasn't the scent of a demon, it was… The hanyou instantly fled towards the well, fearing the worst.
When he arrived at the well, Inuyasha froze. He had been right. A human figure had its hands around Kagome's throat.
"Miroku! What are you doing?" The monk spun, his eyes glowing eerily through the dark. Is he…being controlled? Either way, I can't let him kill Kagome!
"Wind Tunnel!" Instantly, everything in front of Miroku began flying towards the void in his right hand. Inuyasha's reflexes took over. He drew Tetsusaiga and thrust it into the ground, keeping himself from being sucked in with everything else. But he knew this was only temporary. Soon enough, the Wind Tunnel would pull him in, and there would be no escape. Ever. Miroku seemed to know this, and a savage grin crossed his face.
Suddenly, he dropped like a stone, his Wind Tunnel sealed. Behind his unconscious form stood a mysterious figure, dressed in a loose cloak, so that even gender was impossible to determine. Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga, but kept his hand on the sword, just in case.
"Who are you?" he asked. Instead of replying, the figure walked off into the forest. Miroku groaned and sat up, rubbing his head. Kagome ran over to him to make sure he was all right.
"What happened?" Inuyasha queried, before Miroku could rub Kagome where he shouldn't.
Kagome replied, "I wanted to come back early, and when I came through, I saw Miroku and Sango talking. I didn't want to disturb them, so I got out really quietly. Then Sango heard something, and walked off that way" she pointed in the opposite direction of the village "Then there was a flash of light, it hit Miroku, and when he saw me, he tried to strangle me. Then you came."
"Did you get a good look at the guy who saved us?"
"No, his back was to me. And don't ask me what that light was, I honestly don't know!"
Inuyasha nodded. "I better find the guy then. Maybe he can answer those questions." There was a rustling nearby. Maybe I won't have to find him. More rustling.
"S-something's there!" Kagome ran to Inuyasha for protection.
"Gotcha!" Inuyasha darted towards the woods, reached behind a bush, and pulled out…a teenaged human girl. She struggled, but he kept a firm grip on her hair. Then she looked up. Kagome gasped, and Inuyasha did a magnificent double take. The girl took advantage of their momentary surprise by breaking free and racing into the woods. Inuyasha ran after her, but she had disappeared.
Meanwhile, Miroku headed off in the direction Sango had taken, leaving Kagome alone in the clearing.
"Where are you!" Inuyasha hissed, trying to find her in the foliage. And why do you look like my mother? A sudden breeze blew her scent straight to him, as well as her muttering to herself.
"Agh, how could I have been so stupid? Stepping right out in front of him like that, especially tonight. He doesn't even remember me. What's the point? Dad, what am I supposed to do, he's gonna find me any minute—"
"Damn straight! Thought you could hide from me, eh?" Inuyasha leaped at the startled girl, and they rolled over each other, snarling. Suddenly a small rock came sailing out of nowhere and struck her on her temple. She fell, unconscious.
"Who…oh, hi Shippo." The young kitsune jumped down from a nearby tree, looking proud of himself.
"Let's get this kid back to the well. I want to ask her some questions when she wakes up."
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"She's waking up."
"Good. Hey, you, snap out of it!" The girl felt someone smack her face. She halfheartedly swung back, and connected. "Ow!" She opened her eyes and saw Inuyasha rubbing his face. "I've got some questions for you, kid—" Before Inuyasha could finish his sentence, Kagome put her hand over his mouth. He mumbled a few more words before realizing he couldn't talk. He growled softly and licked her hand. Kagome cried out with disgust, shaking his spit off of her hand. The girl chuckled.
"Now, as I was saying…who are you? What's your name?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Yuniko. I'm Yuniko. And you're Inuyasha." Then she saw the sky, the first streak of pink daylight extending towards the group. "Sunrise!" she shrieked. "Oh, ah, I have to go. Right now. Let go of me!" But Inuyasha held her arm tightly, not allowing her to run.
"What does sunrise have to do with anything…oh," he said. "Don't tell me you're a—"
Sunlight filled the clearing. B-bmp. B-bmp. Yuniko's form pulsed to the rhythm of her heartbeat, suddenly loud at the moment of change. Silver dog ears appeared at the top of her head, and her human ears vanished. He eyes lightened, became dark amber. She snarled, showing fangs.
"I told you before to let me go!" She lashed out with her newly-appeared claws. Her unexpected attack ripped through Inuyasha, tearing hungrily, seeking and drawing blood. He yelled in pain and collapsed, clutching his wounded stomach. The world seemed to slow down for him as he hovered dangerously close to unconsciousness. Kagome yelled too, in rage, and she charged at Yuniko. The girl sidestepped with inhuman speed, and Kagome smacked into the well. Not in it, just into it, which was enough to knock her out.
"Two down," Yuniko muttered.
"Three to go!" Sango cried, stepping out of the woods, Miroku beside her.
"Two," Shippo squealed, and hid.
"Two," agreed Yuniko. She bent, smoothly drawing Tetsusaiga from its sheath. Inuyasha groaned and grabbed her arm, trying to stop her, but only succeeded in scratching her. Blood ran down her forearm, dripping from her fingertips onto his torn flesh. The scent of blood overwhelmed him, and he fainted.
Yuniko knelt there, for how long, she didn't know, staring down at Inuyasha. What have I done?
"You there, you humans. Where is the nearest village? I need a healer."
"Why should we tell you, demon?" Sango snarled. "Go off and lick your own wounds. If you die, so much the better."
Yuniko growled. This human was frustrating her to no end. "Not for me, you fool. For him." She pointed at Inuyasha.
Miroku whispered something in Sango's ear. She stared at him, then nodded. "That way." She pointed towards the village. "Kaede can help you." Her face darkened. "But I swear, if he dies, I will hunt you down and use your skull as my drinking cup."
Yuniko nodded gratefully. "Thank you." She took off towards the village, taking the dying Inuyasha with her.
Sango then turned to Miroku. "Why do you trust her?"
The monk shrugged. "She seemed trustworthy. And besides, she can get him to the village much faster than we could. Her speed could save his life." Sango nodded her understanding.
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"Where is Kaede? Hey, don't run away! I've got an injured man here!" But the villager ran off anyway, leaving Yuniko grinding her teeth. "Don't kill the ignoramus, don't kill the ignoramus," she chanted softly to herself, before screaming her frustration. The remaining villagers scattered.
"What are ye shouting about, child?" Kaede stepped out of her hut, and gasped at the sight of the hanyou girl holding a bloody Inuyasha. He was very pale, and hardly breathing. She knew instantly that if she did not move fast, he would be beyond all mortal help.
"Bring him inside, quickly. We have no time to lose!"
Yuniko sagged with relief. He was going to be all right after all…! Half an hour later, Inuyasha was pronounced dead.
Yuniko sat in a corner of the hut, curled up in a fetal position, eyes red from crying. "Father, what do I do now?" Suddenly, she straightened, listening to a voice that Kaede could not hear. "But Sesshomaru has it! How can you… What? He's here?"
"The whelp is dead, then." Yuniko jumped in surprise.
"Sesshy-sama! How did you get here so fast?"
Sesshomaru cast a puzzled glance at the teen. "Father told me to come. He also told me to do this." He raised Tensaiga…
Inuyasha's eyes suddenly snapped open as Sesshomaru swung the blade downwards. He took a deep, gasping breath of the sweet, wonderful air.
"I'm…alive?"
"You're alive!" Yuniko flung herself on him, squeezing him in a tight hug. "Hang on a second…where's Sesshy-sama?"
A voice sounded in her head. "Don't let him know his brother saved him. It would make him angry." She nodded her understanding, burying her nose into Inuyasha's chest, breathing in his scent.
At that moment, Inuyasha realized who was hugging him. "Whoa! What the heck? You tried to kill me, what're you hugging me for!" Yuniko winced as he grabbed her arm, right where he had scratched her. If he noticed, he didn't seem to care.
"That hurts!" Yuniko cried.
"I hope it does! Who the hell do you think you are, hugging me like that? You killed me!"
"Listen, I really am sorry about that, but—"
"Sorry! You killed me, hurt Kagome, and all you can say is you're sorry!"
"How about oops, then? What else can I say? I wasn't thinking! I was caught up in the heat of the moment! Otherwise I wouldn't have hurt you and your mate!"
"She is not my mate!"
"Then why do you tag along with her like a faithful puppy?"
Inuyasha snapped. "That does it, you little—"
"I'm your sister." That stopped the argument dead in its tracks. Yuniko yanked her arm out of Inuyasha's grip, rubbing it to get some feeling back into it.
"What…did you say?"
"I'm sorry, I'll talk more slowly so you can understand me. I…am…your…sister."
"How?"
"How can you not remember? You remember Mom, you remember Sesshomaru, why not me? You were four years old when I was born. We were best friends, we always played together. Then Mom got sick. Dad took me away when I turned thirteen, and I never saw you again."
"My father is alive?"
"Hello-oooo, you have your sister right here. We traveled a lot, but I've been watching you. I never thought" she laughed softly "I never thought you'd be able to smile after what happened."
"Which what?"
"What which what?" Yuniko said, a slight grin cracking her face.
"Which what which you were talking about?"
"Eh?"
Inuyasha frowned. This conversation was making less and less sense. Yuniko was laughing hard now. Then it hit him. She was baiting him, confusing him, and she was enjoying it.
He sighed. "What happened?"
"The priestess. The one who—"
"You mean Kikyo."
"Yeah, her." Yuniko patted his back. "I'm glad she's gone. She caused you so much pain."
"But she's not gone. She was brought back."
"Oh. Darn. Inu-chan…" She snuggled up against him. "Tell me about Mom. I can't remember her at all."
Inuyasha slid away from Yuniko, making her fall over. "Only if you tell me about the old man."
Yuniko grinned mischievously. "Why tell you about him when you can meet him?" Without waiting for a reply, she led Inuyasha outside.
"Where are we—Kagome!"
Kagome was walking unsteadily down the path, supported by Sango and Miroku. Shippo followed them. As soon as they saw Inuyasha, Kagome smiled in relief. Then Yuniko stepped out from behind him. Shippo hid, and Sango reached for her Horaikotsu, but then her arm fell.
"I guess you were right, Miroku—hey!" Slap. Miroku staggered away, Sango's red hand mark—and a perverted grin—on his face. Yuniko raised her eyebrow.
"Ah. You're one of those monks, are you? I remember running into one of your family a while ago. He wasn't conscious for very long."
Sango laughed. "I'm starting to like you already."
Yuniko suddenly jumped like a startled deer, as if she had been struck by something. Moments later, a blurred figure zoomed between her and Inuyasha…and she vanished.
"Yuniko!" What was that? Inuyasha started to follow them, then turned to the others. "I'm going after her. And…don't try following me. I have a feeling I need to do this alone." With that, he ran off after his little sister and her kidnapper.
There. A nice, long, exciting chapter. I hope you liked it! I should update pretty soon, but don't hold your breath…