"Journey Anew"
Prologue :: Salvation
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Author's Note: As much as I shouldn't be starting another story, I just can't help myself! This idea has been playing around in my head forever! And besides, I really, really want to write about Sesshomaru and Kouga, and my other two stories don't have much about them. Enjoy!
Warnings: Well a few of the characters are dead, for starters. I'd rather not read any unpleasant reviews because I knocked off your favorite character, so if you're very sensitive to that then don't read past the first couple paragraphs. There's some violence, thoughts of suicide, obscene language, but nothing too serious. This story isn't as dramatic or tragic as Putting the Damage On, but it's not quite as light as A Feudal Fairytale Retold. It's in-between. That is all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do own this story and this plot, so please do not copy or steal it. Thanks.
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Sango stood gazing at the panoramic view above the abandoned village, her eyes misty with unshed tears. She had parted with Inuyasha and Kagome directly after the final battle, going on alone.
Alone. She was truly alone now. Kilala and Miroku had both been lost in the battle with Naraku, and Kohaku had died the moment the shikon shard had been extracted from his back. It had happened so quickly. Sango's face twisted up in sadness. For the second time in her life, her whole world had been ripped to shreds. She let out a heartbroken sob before shaking her head and wiping her eyes.
A thought had been playing in the back of her mind ever since the deaths of those closest to her. With no mission of revenge, she had nothing to sustain her. She had no reason to live. Although she did not wish to cause Kagome, Inuyasha, or Shippo anymore pain, they had each other and a happy future. She had nothing but a memory and a desolated village. She did not wish to continue on alone, when so many waited for her on the other side.
A chillingly detached smile crossed her face at that moment. Sango began to make her way down to the village. She had picked a few roots and leaves, with the intention to mix and brew up a quick, painless poison. She stumbled, a briar cutting her leg, but she took no note of it. Her body was already broken from the battle anyway. A small, reasonable part of her still remained, and silently scolded her for not waiting around to be treated and bandaged by Kagome. The two day journey had nearly killed her, the gaping wound in her side had become infected and she was positive her right hand was broken. And Hiraikotsu had been abandoned, she had been unable to carry the boomerang.
Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes and she would be inside the village's broken walls. An hour and her poison would be finished. An hour and ten minutes, she would be no more.
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Ginta and Hakkaku followed behind Kouga, both were exhausted, but both were too frightened to inform their prince of their current conditions. The battle with Naraku had gone rather well, but Kouga had not been able to exact his revenge because Inuyasha and Kagome had defeated Naraku. And the bitch Kagura had vanished the moment things had gone down hill for Naraku. And then, to top off all the disappointments, Kagome had sweetly told Kouga about her love for Inuyasha.
To put it short, their prince was not a happy wolf.
"Kou… Kouga," Ginta cleared his throat, once they had stopped for some water. "Do you think, maybe, that it's possible… um, that we could rest for a bit longer?"
Kouga glared at Ginta and just for extra measure, Hakkaku as well, and growled, "If you can't keep up with me, then just go home! I don't have time to waste waiting around for you weaklings!"
"Um, Kouga," Hakkaku said, averting his eyes to the ground, "Where exactly are we going?"
The wolf prince glared deeply at his follower for a long moment, before standing up, "We," He said in a growl, "Are not going anywhere. This is it, I'm leaving you two. Return to our pack and keep things in order until I return."
Ginta and Hakkaku both squeaked, "Kouga!" Ginta cried, "Don't do this! We'll follow you no matter what!"
"I do not need nor wish for your assistance any longer." Kouga snorted and crossed his arms, "Go home, my brothers." He said this a little bit less harshly.
Ginta stared at his prince and nodded, "You will return, right?"
"Of course," Kouga grinned, showing his fangs slightly, "I just need to do this alone."
Hakkaku smiled, "Hurry back Kouga!"
Kouga nodded and dashed away. Though he no longer had the shikon shards to give him speed, his body had become used to moving so quickly and still held a level of speed that most youkai could not match up to. His eyes narrowed as his friends disappeared into the background. In truth, he had no idea where he was going, or why he had suddenly had the urge to go alone.
Failing to defeat Naraku and Kagura, his mind was filled with the images of his slaughtered kinsmen, and their heartbroken families. Shockingly, Kagome's revelation of her feelings for Inuyasha had not hurt him quite as much as he had suspected. He had known all along of her feelings for the hanyou, but he had always imagined he'd be completely heartbroken and devastated when she finally told him. While he was sad, it more like the hurt or let down when something partially trifle doesn't go your way. The guilt of failure was what haunted him now.
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Sango let out a little cry of pain whenever she bumped her side on the make-shift table she had thrown together to lay out all of her ingredients. She had prepared this many times before. It was a soothing potion for youkai, but a deadly poison to humans. It would work efficiently and quickly, with no pain whatsoever.
Sango placed her hand on her wound, and wasn't surprised to find that the gash had begun to bleed again. She sat down and began to mix the roots and leaves, humming a childhood lullaby her mother used to sing to her and Kohaku when they couldn't sleep. She wasn't even completely aware that she had begun to do this.
When the mixing was complete, the potion would need to be heated for half an hour, and then cooled for another ten minutes. Then it would be ready to drink. Sango lit the fire and lay on her back beside the warm glow, a shiver ran up her spine, despite it, and she longed for Kilala's comforting warmth, always beside her, always protecting her. Sango stared for a long time, her eyes began to water but she made no effort to wipe them. A bubble popped in the mixture, and Sango sat up. It was ready. She splashed the fire out with the water she had placed in a bowl, and walked outside.
It was a gorgeous day. The breeze was cool, but the sun shined uninterrupted except for the occasional cloud. And while she had been gone, some sort of wild flowering vine had grown all around the village walls and over the graves. It made a lovely, yet sad scene. Sango took one last deep breath of the fresh air, and before returning inside, she plucked a few of the flowers and placed them behind her ear.
She lifted a wooden spoon and scooped up a cupful. Blinking back sudden fears of the unknown, Sango drank the entire glass without stopping to think or consider this action any longer.
The glass toppled to the floor and Sango lost the strength in her legs. She leaned against the wall and smiled through her tears. Already she felt a chill run through her body, and then a comforting numbness. It wouldn't be long now.
She let out a little gasping breath; her body was trying to fight the effects. But she had no will now and her efforts died away. Sango's eyes glazed over once her body was completely numb. A trickle of blood and salvia slid down her chin, and she slowly began to fall to her side. She was dead before she even hit the ground. One of the flowers fell from where she had placed it and settled onto the surface beside her.
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Tenseiga pulsed once again. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. The sword was calling to him. Leading him to something. It had never quite reacted like this. Sure it had pulsed when it wanted to save a life right in front of him, but never had the sword made Sesshomaru go out of his way for its demands. Sesshomaru wasn't even quite sure why he was listening to it anyway. Rin and Jaken walked behind him, Rin humming merrily and Jaken was plugging his ears.
"My Lord, please tell Rin to shut up! She will not listen to me!" Jaken pleaded. The youkai ignored Jaken and continued to ponder the actions of his sword.
"Oh! Wow!" Rin stopped, her eyes widening. They were standing on a cliff, overlooking a wonderful view of a village and the mountains. It was gorgeous. Rin clapped her hands together, "Look Jaken, all those flowers!"
Jaken rolled his eyes and glanced in the direction Rin had pointed, "Oh." He was a little surprised. It was actually rather pleasing to look at.
Sesshomaru began to descend the cliff side without a word. Jaken and Rin followed behind him, Rin quieter as she stared at the scenery. Sesshomaru entered into the village. It was completely abandoned. Why would Tenseiga lead him here?
"Sesshomaru-sama, there is nothing here. Looks like a war was fought here some time ago." Jaken observed.
"Silence." Sesshomaru commanded. Jaken and Rin both nodded simultaneously. The youkai unsheathed his sword. The pulsing was so strong that waves of wind were emanating from the sword. Rin's eyes widened as her hair swayed back and forth. Sesshomaru held Tenseiga before him and followed the sword's pulling. He entered into a hut and saw a girl lying on the ground. He narrowed his eyes. "This is what you sensed? A worthless human woman?" A growl escaped his lips and he almost sheathed his sword.
But taking another look, he realized that she was slightly familiar. And then it dawned on him. She was the taijiya who had traveled with Inuyasha. Sesshomaru momentarily wondered why his foolish brother and his wench would leave their companion for dead, but he dismissed it. He could not smell their scents, proving that they had not been with her. And judging by the peaceful expression on the girl's face and the empty cup on the ground, she had indeed taken her own life.
"Obviously, she wished for death." Sesshomaru argued with Tenseiga aloud. The sword pulsed violently, shaking the youkai lord's hand. Sesshomaru lifted it up, annoyed and bored at the same time of the whole ordeal. He stared hard at her, seeing not with his eyes but with his spirit, the creatures from the other side surrounding her prone form. With one large swoop, Sesshomaru managed to send them all back to the world of death.
In an instant, warmth returned to her cheeks and she gasped for breath. Sesshomaru turned to leave, but Tenseiga pulsed once more. Glancing at his now sheathed sword, Sesshomaru was becoming tired of this game. What could the sword possible want him to do now?
A cough. The girl was sitting up, looking at her hands in complete and total shock. She had yet to notice the youkai lord. "Wha…?"
"Tenseiga willed that you should live." Sesshomaru replied. She looked up in complete surprise at this sight of the youkai.
It took a moment for his words to register. "You… brought me back?"
"No. The sword brought you back." Sesshomaru said in a completely nonchalant way.
Anger swept through Sango, but she felt too unsteady to stand. "Don't I have a choice in the matter?"
"No." Sesshomaru answered.
Sango looked down at the ground. What was she supposed to do now? Kill herself again? Sesshomaru turned to leave, "I have no interest as to why you took your own life, nor do I care. But the sword tells me that you should live."
Before Sango could reply, Rin bounded into the hut. She stared at Sango for a moment, and then smiled and waved, "Oh! Its you! You're the girl Kohaku told me about! Sango, right?!"
Sango's eyes widened dramatically, and then filled with tears. Kohaku…
Rin blinked, having no idea that Kohaku was dead. She then smiled, "Why are you all by yourself? It must be lonely."
Sesshomaru stood outside of the door, but he was not out of hearing range. Jaken stood beside him, pretending to be aggravated.
Sango looked at her hands, "It is. That's why…" She stopped, deciding not to continue her thought, "Yes, it's very lonely."
"Then why don't you travel with us! I'd like to know more about Kohaku, and if I ask Sesshomaru-sama, I'm sure he won't mind. He doesn't really mind about a lot of things, actually." Rin grinned, "Sesshomaru-sama-"
"I do not care." Sesshomaru growled out, as Tenseiga pulsed once more.
"See!" Rin chirped. Sango stared at her for a long moment. Her life just loved to take her by such surprise sometimes. She had four options. One: Damn them all and kill yourself again. Two: Say thanks but decline, and live the rest of your life all alone. Three: Say thanks but decline, and return to Inuyasha and Kagome and be jealous of their happiness. Or the last one: Agree to travel with Rin and Sesshomaru, and see where life takes you.
Sango considered the first option for a long while before nodding to Rin, "I suppose, I could travel with you for awhile…"
Rin's face broke out into a large smile and she grabbed Sango's formerly broken hand. Sango slowly got to her feet, the last flowers falling from her hair. One landed on Rin's shoulder, and the girl giggled, brushing it off, "Let's go!"
Sango nodded and was dragged out of the hut by Rin. She almost bumped into Sesshomaru, but because of her quick reflexes, she missed him. The youkai took no notice of her and began to walk away towards the opening of the village doors. Jaken, as Rin began to explain about, followed Sesshomaru and shot Sango a look of contempt.
"… acts really mean sometimes but I know he's really my friend, no matter how many times he tells me to shut up! Jaken's really funny too and sometimes Sesshomaru-sama hits Jaken on the head and its very funny, but I don't think Jaken likes it too much! Sesshomaru never hits me of course. I don't think I bother him like Jaken can…" Rin babbled as they traveled down the path. Sango only caught bits and pieces of what the child was saying. She was in a daze. Had she been a bit more in the right state of mind, she might not have taken the offer to travel with Inuyasha's evil half-brother.
But then again, some of the best decisions can be made when one is not completely sane.
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Eh. Well. I'm not entirely sure if Sango's reaction to being revived was all that good, but I don't think she'd start screaming like a banshee at Sesshomaru either. I don't know, maybe she was a little too accepting of it all… and maybe she agreed just a tad bit too fast with Rin's proposition… but, then again, she's not all there right now either. I think the real reaction of being brought back to life will come out in the next chapter… Yeah, it will. Lol.
Sesshomaru is a very apathetic guy, so that's why he doesn't give a rat's ass about Sango traveling with them. Besides, Rin needs company and a woman wouldn't hurt to take of her, right? Eh. Hehe. Oh and Tenseiga kinda likes Sango anyhow. Lol.
And what happened to Kouga? I kinda just left him out, huh? Oh well, he wasn't needed anymore so… Be assured though that he does show up more in the next chapter! Okies!
Anywho. Although I'm not a 100 satisfied, rewriting it would only make me less satisfied. So. Here you are… the first chapter of Journey Anew! Enjoy!
- Taijiya
