"SHES LATE AGAIN!"
a male voice rang out through the quite village. Many of the villagers were use to this type of outburst. Those whom never heard it were more of the newer residence to the area.
With-in a hut that neared the stairway to the village shrine, which also bordered near the forest, came a racket of anger and annoyance.
Standing near the entrance on the inside of the hut, stood a male, clad in red garments. His long silver colored hair flowed past the mid point of his back. Two canine like ears, as well as claws and fangs, stuck out on this male.
"Calm yourself Inuyasha" Chimed an elderly woman, wearing the traditional Shinto priestess attire. She sipped her tea, seemingly unphased by the young hanyou's snorting and barking.
Sitting not so far away from the lady priestess was a taijiya, who seemed to also ignore the constant complaints of her male companion. She kept her eyes on her feline friend, petting under her chin.
"I must agree with kaede -baba" spoke another male who was sitting on the opposite side of the priestess. "she will come back in due time. You must be patient my friend" the monk continued to speak. Finally meeting his friend's gaze.
"houshi-sama is absolutely right, Inuyasha." the young woman finally spoke. Though she seemed to refuse to look up at the hanyou. She continues to pet the feline, who mewed in response, showing she was in fact enjoying the love her master was giving her.
With that last bit of banter, Inuyasha snarled then snorted before leaving the hut in aggravation. While his companions sighed and looked to one another in a form of defeated for trying to teach him a bit of patient.
"do you think, that mayhaps he will truly learn to settle down?" kaede spoke quietly while looking deep within her tea, in deep thought. She watched as the mist from the hot liquid danced around the rim of the chawan.
"I highly doubt that kaede -baba " chimed a small kitsune kit. Crossing his arms and nodding his head while his ponytail bounced from the actions. " he's so stubborn, he would never learn a thing no matter how many times you try to bash it into his skull". The kit continued.
"aye, I suppose you may be correct ShippÅ-chan" once more the elder spoke. Her face showed a bit of sorrow and exhaustion.
Meanwhile, near the bone eater's well. Inuyasha sat in a tree that overlooked the small clearing, and the well in the center of it. The canopy of the tree provided the hanyou with much shade as well as coverage. Though he seemed to be more relaxed, on closer inspection, the hanyou was actually seething. His body tense, his eyes never moving from the well. His ears flicked in different directions, sensing the area, in case someone, or thing, attempted to come up to him.
'Stupid female. Always doing this to me. Always leaving me. Why? Am I not enough for her? What do these tests give her that I can not?!' the hanyou snorted, trying to keep his inner thoughts from bursting out. He gritted his teeth and sat up, both his legs hanging off either side of the branch he was sitting on.
'WHAT do THEY give her THAT I DO NOT' he snarled and slammed a fist down onto the branch, alarming a few birds that had taken a moment's rest on the canopy above him. With that small action, Inuyasha felt the anger slowly diminish, while sorrow started to creep up to take its place. He opened his hand, realizing he had dug his long nails into his palm, drawing blood that started to pool on the branch. Finally, he took a few breaths, trying to collect himself, closing his eyes to regain any sense he may have lost. Opening them once more, he looked at his hand, the blood had stained his skin, but the wounds were now gone.
'what am I doing to myself?' he thought to himself. Lifting his gaze upward towards the sky. He let out a loud sigh before closing his eyes once more than letting himself fall back in the crotch of the tree.
~~~later on that evening~~~
"has he not returned? I had thought he would have given it a rest by now" the elder miko sighed as she laid down a couple of futons for the group.
"It appears as though he won't leave till she returns" sighed Miroku, helping kaede with the nightly task. Glancing over to Sango.
"my dear, would you be so kind to check on him? I believe he won't put up much of a fight if you went in my stead". He smiled at the taijiya.
Without much of a fight, Sango stood, nodded to Miroku and excited the hut. Kirara was on her heels, mewing before jumping on the young maiden's shoulder. Sango had seemed oddly quiet since their last battle. It did not take her long to reach the tree the hanyou had taken shelter in. she looked up to see a pair of melted gold colored eyes staring down at her. The two of them had a very odd relationship. Mainly seeing one another as allies, warriors and if it really came to it, friends.
"Inuyasha, we are ready to turn in for the night. I'm sure you can smell it, there is a storm on the way. Way not join us in the warmth of the hut?" her voice seemed very mechanical. As dense as the half-breed was, he could pick out subtitle things like this when it came to his friends. Though most of the time he dismisses it or chooses not to press the matter. However, this seemed to be different.
He looked down at the young women, both ears lay level against his head. Snorting was is only reply to her request.
She sighed and the glare stand-off began between the two of them. Moments passed by, though it felt more like days. Both stubborn in their own ways, neither wanting to let the other win. That was until the hanyou started to smirk, which grew into a more sinister, cocky smile. Sango started to feel uneasy at his current expression. She swallowed before speaking.
"what the hell is so amusing, eh?" she snapped. She was in no mood for any of his sarcastic comebacks, assholery attitude or crude behavior . She shifted her body weight to her left leg, while the knee of her right bent out. She thrust her fists on her hips and bent forward a small bit.
"you may want to go back to the hut now" his voice was low. The smile never leaving his face as he shifted back into his laying position on the branch. His eyes never leaving hers, while his ears rotated forward once more.
Just as he said those words, the downfall of rain, heavy rain, crashed to the earth. Sango shivered as the cold drops hit her hard. She winced a few times as they struck her exposed flesh. Kirara taking Inuyasha's cue and seeking shelter in the tree. She watched as her master was bombarded with the rain.
After a moment of watching her fight the rain, and a few rumbles of thunder. Inuyasha finally sighed, giving in to his more protective nature. He removed his haori and placing it in front of him. Moving swiftly, he jumped down, grabbing the Taijiya around the waist, lifting her up to his former perch. He leaned back against the base of the trunk where he had been most of the day. Waiting for her to get her balance and get comfortable enough before throwing his haori on her to keep her warm.
"you tell anyone I was this nice, I will kill you" he growled, mostly in a playful tone. Bringing his female companion against his chest for warmth.
She shivered for a few moments before answering him. "you do not wish for everyone to know how much of a soft, loyal puppy you truly are?" she teased back. She couldn't help herself from smiling at that comeback. She soon realized how fast she was warming up being against him. Kirara nuzzled close between them, seeking warmth from the two figures.
"that would be the worse. How would I ever recover from everyone seeing how much of a damned softy that I truly am" he sighed dramatically. "I would simply die" his eyes closed as he let his arms wrap around her for extra support. Miroku would have his hide if he let sango fall out of the tree.