Well, this is my first Inuyasha fanfiction. I hope that you find it interesting. I don't have a beta so if you find grammar mistakes and such let me know so I can fix them. Also don't forget to review. I'm always interested in hearing what you think and ideas for the furture of this story.
The morning light brushed the earth shedding its' pale hues of pinks and yellows across the lily pad pounds and the grassy hills still damp with the morning dew. The air fresh and crisp, the song birds flew sprouting their early morning tune. The base of a frog echoed in return and the accent of a jumping fish all of which was disgruntled by a group of early morning travelers. A band of misfits formed together by only the humor of fate.
Things were a bit different this morning of all morning for this little group. While yes, they always tended to set out earlier then perhaps most of them would like, though later than some, they all seemed on edge. Which one could easily conclude was seemingly uncalled for when considering the kind of day they resided in. The grim lines on their faces seemed as if they would be more at home, in a war torn village than the small piece of paradise that they had unnoticeably been trudging through.
A white haired youth dressed completely in red, his feet free of any constriction that could possible protect his feet from sharp rocks or any misgivings the ground could offer, walked in the lead, stopping ever so often, the puppy ears that rested on top of his head swiveling and twitching and his nose jerking about very much like an apprehensive dog in new and potentially dangerous territory. The group seemed to wait patiently every time this was done and only preceded further when nonverbal consent was given.
"Inuyasha?" A soft voice filtered into the swiveling white furred ears, causing the red cladded youth to turn his attentions to a girl dressed in a green and white school uniform. The skirt hiked impossibly short showing off her long legs, her hands gripping the shoulder straps of her back pack. "How close are we?"
Golden eyes looked away from her and looked back into the direction they were heading. "Not too far." He said. He was going off his memory alone of the place they were heading to. He hadn't been there since he had been a pup, the home of his father and now his brother. He was beginning to question his own sanity about going back though. Sure it was his right to be recognized by the Inu clan as his father's son and an heir, and sure it was a great way to sock to Sesshomaru who had to be the one to recognize him in front of everyone, now that he was officially an adult and his father had been dead for a long time. It was still nerve racking to be traveling so deeply into his brother's territory. He wouldn't put it past the bastard to have plotted some sort of assassination scheme which was why everyone was so on edge.
Inuyasha started walking again the other five following after him. "Look." He said when he got to the top of a hill that over looked the home he had been born in. The group crowded around him a see at the home of Inuyasha's deceased father.
The impressive structure stood next to the ocean. A large stone wall separated the castle from it, but it didn't stop the salt heavy waters from licking up the sides of the stone walls as if trying to unsuccessfully climb its way up into it. A morning mist blanketed the area making parts a bit difficult to see but also giving it an almost mystical aura. A large grey stone wall encircled the outer most part of the castle and the heavy looking gate seemed to be uninviting at best. Above the stone walls a few leafy trees swayed in the wind but oddly it did nothing to brighten the grayness the stone walls projected or perhaps it was knowledge of who the man that lived behind these walls was. Behind the gate and walls were towers with roofs that curled upwards like the fable grin of Persian cat. The strategic placement of these towers behind the walls lent itself to believe that these were to be added to the defense of the castle, perhaps guard towers.
In the center of all this stood the largest structure, supporting many curved roofs. It was grey much like the stone walls, but perhaps it had once been white and the wind and rain had changed its' color to the present state. Inuyasha seemed to remember it being white at any point.
The grandiose of the castle was lost on the group as their attention was quickly diverted by a rustle in the bushes behind them. Turning quickly the all went into their unique defensive stances just in time to see a large fanged mouth of a snake jumping out at them. Miroku, the pony tailed monk, was ready to use his staff but Inuyasha jumped in from behind him and made a slash at the over grown snake. The agility of the snake proved to be great as it twisted and wrapped itself around the white haired half demon's arm. Inuyasha bared his fangs as he felt the large snake start to squeeze his arm staring into the red eyes of the demon snake. He raised his other clawed hand to tear through it but was beaten to the task as a yellow flash of light sliced through severing the snakes head from the rest of its' body. It started Inuyasha, having not expected that and felt the rest of it body loosen its' hold on his arm and drop to the floor.
He looked over behind his group and saw none other than his brother, standing taller than the others much like the middle structure did among the walls and towers. A growl erupted from his throat upon seeing him, "what the hell are you doing here bastard?" He demanded from his older half sibling.
Sesshomaru wasn't at all put out by his brother's tone, or word choice, having had expected it. "Do not take your inability to take care of a mere nuisance out on me, half breed." An underlining tone that suggested that Sesshomaru was also poking at how a half breed like him had managed to live long enough to see this day.
Inuyasha, wither or not he picked up on that, felt his pride being attacked and bristled further. "I could have handled it myself." He declared.
Sesshomaru didn't look convinced, "I had wondered if you were even going to make it, after all it has been some time since you became an adult." Again another underlining attack, this one on his primarily human living group. Everyone seemed to pick up on it as they stiffened further, knowing that it wouldn't take much effort for Sesshomaru to end their lives right then and there. They were certainly at a disadvantage when it came to him, though Inuyasha had proved more than once that he was capable of standing up against him. Sesshomaru carried around the testament to that or rather, he had lost something to that testament.
"Well we're here now." The half demon snapped not able to think of a good defense for his human counterparts. It was true they slowed him down but it meant little to him compared to what he has gained by having them around.
"Hn." Was all that was offered in return as Sesshomaru turned around and started walking back to the castle. The band of misfits looked at one another before following after him, Inuyasha in the back watching Sesshomaru intently least he need to defend his clan.
As they arrived to the castle gats a crane youkai met them at the gate. He was very tall and had an unusually long neck, it was perhaps two inches longer then a normal human's would be. His skin and hair were extraordinarily pale, a sharp contrast to his small dark eyes that were above his sharp nose and pinched mouth. The crane youkai bowed deeply to them as they passed through the gate.
Sesshomaru hardly gave them time to take in the sights from inside the gate as he led them directly to the main castle. Once inside a woman was there to greet them. She was an elderly woman and obviously human for youkais do not age to that point. Her wiry gray hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She bowed deeply to them.
"Please follow me, I will show you each to your rooms, if it so pleases you, Inuyasha-sama." Inuyasha nodded for her to precede not noticing Sesshomaru leaving the group too into the fact that Sesshomaru had a human woman working for his brother in the castle. They followed the old woman down several halls passing by several servants on the way. Inuyasha picked up on something though. The old lady was very different from the other servants, other than the fact that she was the only human servant here. It was her eyes. The other servants' eyes were dull and lifeless and yet her's held a deep joy that only a woman of several years could have.
Kagome seemed to find the woman fascinating as well. She piped the first question. "ummm…excuse me what is your name?"
A raspy voice escaped the old woman, "I fear that I barely remember it, I have not heard it spoken in so long. My name is Sayaka."
The group murmured pleasantries to her and Sayaka smiled at it. She then stopped in front of a door. "This will be the ladies' room." She slid the door open and the girls stepped inside of the room. Shippo went to follow but was held back. "This is the ladies' room." She stressed at him gently. Sayaka redirected the little fox with a gentle hand to the room across the hall. "This is your room, little one." Sayaka signaled to Inuyasha and Miroku to enter as well indicating that this was also their room.
"Ah, there you are." The sound of Sayaka's voice brought their attention back to her. "This is Shinji." Sayaka indicated to the adolescent fox, whom had been waiting patiently in the corner. Everything about him seemed dull, from his green eyes, to the scruff red hair to even his gray haori. It was very unlike Shippo or any fox they had ever met. "If it so pleases you, Inuyasha-sama, Shinji will serve the three of you for the duration of your stay." Inuyasha again just nodded as he scrutinized the young fox as the fox in questioned bowed. He didn't even know foxes could be 'tamed' in such a way. It seemed very wrong. Sayaka went on, "Please make yourselves at home. You may explore the castle rounds if you wish, however please do not force yourself into any locked rooms."
"Where did my brother go?" Came Inuyasha's gruff demand.
Sayaka didn't seem put out by his tone "He will send for you when he is ready." She said instead of answering his question directly. She then bowed and disappeared behind the door leaving Shinji behind. Shinji went and sat in a corner making himself part of the wall.
Miroku was looking at a scroll hanging on the wall when he noticed Inuyasha leaving. "Oi, Inuyasha, where are you going?" he asked.
"What's it to you, Monk? I'm just going for a walk." The he slide the door closed behind him not bothering to wait for the other male's response. The castle had changed very little since had last been there. Not that he minded, it was kind of comforting. The same paintings hung on the walls but the wooden floors that he recalled had always been bare now had a black rug running the length of the hall. The half breed padded down the hall slowly reliving memories of his short childhood.
His ears perked up upon hearing a tune, a simple little melody though he wasn't familiar with it himself. He followed after the sound to find its' source. He was lead to a door that was partially opened. He peeked in trying to see if someone was in there but couldn't tell. He opened it further and hesitantly stepped into the room. He slowly took the room in, it reminded him of Kagome's. There was a permanent bed rather than a futon that could be easily stored when not in use. A cherry wooded dresser and a stone fire place it was on the mantel of the fireplace that it seemed the music was coming from. A small statue of two horses, a big and little one each having a horn growing out of its' head was twisting around he watched it curiously for a bit before going over there and picking it up and watched the base to continue to move. He stopped the base from moving and the music stopped, he released the base and it started up again.
He turned back to the room and looked around a bit more. A cherry wood night stand and book shelf with many books, most of which he couldn't read. The floor wasn't tatami mats either rather hard wood. What was a room like this doing in Sesshomaru's place? He turned back to the little music statue that had stopped playing its' tune. He saw movement upward and his eyes flickered up to the mirror. And saw someone in the room next to him and turned to see who had snuck up on him. Nobody was there though. He looked around and sniffed trying to find who had been there and looked back in the mirror to still see no one there. Confused he decided to leave and get the others to come and look at the room to see what they would make of it.
Well, that's the end of the first chapter. Again don't forget to review and tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your ideas of where this should go.