Inuyasha couples-
Verie (Kagome's cousin OC)-Minh (a Wolf demon OC)
Laruda (OC)-Kouga
Soree (OC) - Jon (OC Fox demon)
Kagome- Inuyasha
Sango – Miroku
Alex (neko/unknown demon OC) – Sesshomaru
Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha, but I do own the other characters.
A New Beginning in A time Forgotten
Two girls stood at the gates of a public race track in Tokyo Japan; watching as a group of about five cars zoomed by the metallic entrance. One of the two girls watched the racers drive in mild amusement and fascination while the other wore a look of pure happiness at some inner thought.
The first of the girls was wearing a pair of long black pants that hung low on her hips and fell loosely around her legs covering the tops her black and red combat boots and a tight red mid drift tank-top showing a curved Chinese dragon tattoo painted in red and black curling up the lower left side of her hip. Her curled black hair was pulled into a low, painful-looking, ponytail falling to the middle of her back and wrapped tightly in a silver scarf; only showing the black of her tips. Her face was slightly tanned and framed by long crimson bangs that seemed to frame her face delicately and managed to effectively hide her ears. The deep, seemingly endless, black color of her eyes hidden behind dark sunglass as a sardonic smirk formed on her small pale pink lips and her black eyebrows dipped beneath the black glass; a bandana situated over her tanned forehead only reveling only a small black vertical line stopping just between her eyes. Strangely enough a long, thick, fuzzy silver streaked black belt-looking object was wrapped tightly around her waist on her pants the tip hung loosely to her ankles
The second girl looked much more innocent and kinder then her dark companion, the evidence of this danced in her pale sea green, slanted eyes. Her hair, though still black, looked considerably paler then her companions and was left flowing down to her mid-back in layers. She wore a pair of light blue jeans that hugged her hips and thighs then belled at the bottom only just skimming the tops her white and blue tennis-shoes. Her tight white top went over the top of her pants and a blue over-shirt was worn over the tight shirt. Her yellowish-tan skin was only a little lighter then her friends, making her Asian heritage more apparent, and she wore a small innocent smile on her dark pink lips as she watched the other racer. Both were equal in size at 5'5" making their major differences in appearances seem more immanent then one would usually think.
The darker girl tilted her head towards another group of men that stood off to the side by their cars talking and laughing at something one had said. The Asian next to her merely gave a smile and nod as both began to walk towards the group. One of the men looked up form the discussion he was having and noticed the two beauties behind his little group.
"Well, well what do we have here?" His statement caught the other men's attention and they each looked at the girls standing behind them. "Come to get a lesion in riding hard ladies?" The perverse comment slid over the Asian's head, but the dark eyed girl caught its duel uses immediately.
"I'll be happy to teach you baby!" One of the men said as he walked up to the Asian girl and pulled her closer to him by her shoulder. The said girl flinched and tried to pull away almost immediately afterwards.
As soon as his arm was around the innocent girl's shoulders; the darker one reacted and had his arm twisted painfully behind his back forcing him to the ground. The other men blinked in surprise at the speed the girl displayed, but got over it a minute later at their friends pained cry and began to rush at the one in black. She effortlessly kick the first one in the gut while still holding the first man; the kick had forced her to tighten her hold on the man twisting his arm even further making him scream out even louder in pain.
Two more girls walked in at the moment that the men charged the dark one and ran to her aid. The first one to get there had deep brown skin and wore loose fitting black "boy-shorts" and a red shirt with the words "My face is up here" and an arrow pointing up in big bold black letters that stretched tightly over her large chest. A red hat put on backwards over her short dark brown hair with green goggles signed by Scott McNeal on her head.
The second of the two was obviously young with long orange-red hair the fell in loose curls to her lower back. She wore a pair of loose blue jeans that fell over brown leather sandals and a pale blue shirt with the words art club written in fancy calligraphy and a panda holding a paintbrush. Her pale pinkish-white skin shone in the sun light almost blindingly and her deep blue eyes flashed with anger.
The chocolate skinned girl used a high jump kick and caught one of the attacking men in the face bringing him down while the younger one delivered a low punch to another. This and the fact that the one in dark clothing had taken another two out with a swift punch and a harsh kick abruptly brought all of the fighting to an end. The two other fighting girls gave out an angry sigh as they regarded each man, standing or not; then the one in black turned to the one who's arm was still in her iron grip.
"You ever touch her again" She grabbed his hair forcing him to look at the Asian, "and I'll kill you." Her voice dripped with venom as she let each word drip dangerously from her lips, each syllable said with slow and meaningful breaths.
"Alex. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it." The dark haired one turned to the one that spoke to see that it was her Asian companion trying to save face. She had a small smile on her innocent face as she said this.
Alex merely gave a small, soft smile to the girl as she through the man to the ground. "I should care if he meant something by it, Verie?" Her voice was thick with sarcasm as she asked her seemingly innocent question as a dark smirk found its way across her pink lips.
The two new companions laughed at this and Alex turned to her other two friends. The darker skinned one was more then a head and shoulders taller then the rest of her companions and her brown eyes were now laughing merely with a mixture of cynical realism and joy dancing in them. The other was far shorter and younger then her three 19 year old companions, being younger by four years one would think it would be harder for her to keep up but that was not the case, as she laughed with her taller friend she was a good head shorter then Alex and Verie.
"Well now," Alex smiled at the two late arrivals, "glad you two found time to make it, Soree, Laruda." Alex addresses her tall and young companion respectively.
Soree grinned mischievously as she patted Alex on the head and looked down at her. "Well sorry we wanted the little kitty-cat to have some fun before we showed up." She gave a wink to the irritated girl below her hand.
"Don't call me that!" She growled out in annoyance as she brushed the hand away from her head, revealing her sharp-looking, claw-like nails that seemed to reflect off the skin of the darker girl. She turned to face the younger girl, Laruda. "So you ready to see me race, Chibi-chan." The growl in her voice was replaced with affection for the younger girl.
Laruda gave a large happy smile as her face lit up. "Am I ever!" She nearly shouted out while she jumped up and down.
The guys, whom had been all but forgotten chose this moment to open their big mouths, "You? Race? Ha! That should be a sight, girl!"
Each of the four girls turned to glare at the men; the two darkest glares coming from Alex and Soree. "I doubt now would be the best time for you boys to be noticed, don't cha think?" Soree spat out as she watched them squirm under the glares.
The men gulped and backed off. "I'll be right back with my car." Alex's voice had become dark and foreboding as she gave one last glare to the men and left the gate.
Not to long after a black corvette drove up to the group and the men stared in awe. Then went quickly to the own cars, expecting to beat the girl down and gain their pride back after that humiliating fight.
The race went faster then any of the men could follow for as soon as Verie shouted go they were left in the dust. Never being one to lead someone on Alex took of as fast as she could and made it across the finish line with at least a lap between her and the closest other racer. Getting out of her car she was quickly surrounded by her three friends as they each congratulated her.
Verie looked down at her watch to see that it was almost five and they had yet to go and visit her cousin, whom was the whole reason they had come to Japan in the first place. "Guys we promised my cousin that we'd be at her place an hour ago! She's probably worried by now!" Verie exclamation threw each of the other three into gear as they each looked at either their watch or cell phones to see the time.
Turning to Laruda and Soree, Alex asked how they had gotten to the track when Laruda answered the train, Alex quickly ushered the two into the back seats as she and Verie took the drivers and passenger's seat in the front. Verie gave quick direction to her cousin's place as Alex sped down the streets weaving through traffic expertly. They soon arrived at their destination and Alex looked at the place in astonishment.
"Verie, you never told me that your cousin lived in um… shrine before." Her voice trailed at the end very unhappy with this realization.
"I hadn't really thought about it, but why does that matter?" Verie questioned as she stepped out of the passengers seat letting Soree out of her side while Alex did the same for Laruda on her side. Alex shook her head sadly.
"Well I certainly hope that the wards on the entrance aren't very strong then Ver-chan or I'll have to wait out-" She cut herself off as she noticed the form of man taking off with a girl on his back, a girl that look an awful lot like her best friend. "Hey isn't that your cousin Ver?" Alex asked as she watched the man pause in his retreat and look their way.
"Verie?" The black haired girl called out before the man-boy scuffed and started off again. "Hey!" The girl yelled at him
"Kagome!" Verie shouted in a panic. "Alex hurry! Do something, please!" The Asian girls please did not go unheard as Alex took off after the boy with fast graceful leaps, making it seem like the dark girl was flying.
With one last hard leap she jumped onto the boy's head knocking him down while at the same time she grabbed Kagome from his back and held her waist in her arms to keep her from falling. After she was sure the boy was down Alex tossed the shock girl over her shoulder gently and raced back to her group of friends. Placing the freighted teen next to her cousin Alex turned her nose the other direction, away form the girl.
Getting over her fright at the other girls strength and speed, Kagome turned to her older cousin giving her a big hug, which was eagerly returned. "I thought you weren't going to show!" She exclaimed happily releasing the older girl.
"Of course I was going to show! We just got, um, delayed." Verie said giving a side ways glance to a smirking Alex.
"So these are the famous friends I've been hearing about, ne? Let me guess the one who ahem rescued me must be… Alex?" Alex gave a curt nod in agreement stepping closer to Verie as discretely as possible. "Alright then you must be Soree- the weird one." Soree smiled and gave two thumbs up about to comment when the Laruda put a hand over her mouth. "And that leaves you to be Laruda." The younger girl gave a friendly smile removing her hand from Soree's mouth; that was a mistake.
"So the guy Al here tackled had to be you boy friend right?" She gave the younger girl a wink and broad smile. "I mean he was carrying you and you didn't seem to mind at all." The said girl blushed as the attention was diverted from her to the boy on the ground.
"Um, that's Inuyasha. He's my… friend." Each one of the girls noticed Kagome's hesitation to say friends and some smirked, namely Soree and Laruda, Verie just smiled and Alex looked indifferent as she studied the approaching boy.
"He's a hanyou." She stated absently not taking her gaze from him as she removed her black shades.
Inuyasha stopped momentarily in his strides over to the group in surprise at her statement. Then looked over the girl that had so boldly stated his ethnicity: long black hair wrapped in a silver scarf-thing, ears hidden behind thick strands of curled red hair; a long, thick, silver/black fuzzy tail-like object protruding from her lower waist and deep black eyes that not even the sun's light could ever hope to penetrate. Then and only then did he manage to get a whiff of the air around her; because of all the humans around her, he had missed it before, but not now that he was closer it stuck out like a sore thumb, the smell of wild followers, fire and cat. (wild flower and fire from her other half).
His golden eyes widen and he took a step back. "You're a yokai!" His exclamation brought the attention of the entire house hold and they ran from the temple to where the group had gathered.
Looking from the new comers to Inuyasha then back, they realized that he was talking to and looking at the girl in all black.
Alex smirked at the young hanyou. "Great deduction dog-boy, what ever made you think that?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and the group of girls laughed at him. "Maybe it was the tail, or claws, or the fangs, or possibly it was the pointed ears and smell…" She pulled back the long bangs from her ears as further proof. The look on the others face's made her smirk in triumph as she let her red bangs fall back over her pointed ears.
Sota looked at the group of girls closely and noticed the Asian in the group. "Verie!" His shout seemed to bring the attention from the yokai and hanyou. The boy ran and hugged his elder cousin around the waist as she laughed merely and hugged the boy back.
"Sota, how have you been? Sorry it's been so long." Verie said smiling brightly at the boy around her waist. "But you should know I'm here to see Kagome."
Sota pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "That's not fair she's about to..." he was cut off by a sharp jab from his elder sister, who shook her head negatively; "go on a …trip?" His small voice squeaked a little.
Alex scuffed at hearing this blunt lie, unconsciously moving closer to her best friend as the rest of the family came closer. "So we'll go with you." Her stress on the word with left little room for debate; of course that meant that the white haired hanyou would try.
"What the hell makes you think I would let you go demon-girl?" He spat out at Alex.
"Oh?" Alex gave a dark smirk and was in the half-demon's face before he knew what was happening. "Whose going to stop me? You, half-ling?" Inuyasha nearly fell back from surprise, but Alex caught his shirt before he could fall.
"Feh! Fine do what ever you want!" He said crossing his arms over his chest mumbling, but Alex heard the words clearly still holding his shirt. "Won't be able to get through anyway." He mumbled pushing her hand away from him.
We'll see about that. She thought calmly. "I plan to." She turned to Kagome. "Let us get our bags and then you can lead the way to our destination. Sound like a plan to you guys."
Verie gave a huge smile. "Of course!"
Soree grinned at her friend "I'm always game for getting into troubled." Her eyes twinkled with a sardonic light.
Laruda started to hop from one foot to another excitedly. "Ooh Yea let's go! Let's go!" she exclaimed thrusting her hand in the air far more excited then she really should have been.
At her reaction most everyone sweat dropped, while Soree merely grinned and joined the younger girl; thrusting her own arm into the air as well. "Alright… I suppose if you can come… why not?" Kagome said a bit strangely, watching the other two girls. "Well let's go." She walked up to Inuyasha and dragged him along with her; the two leading the way to the small, old shed that hid the bone eaters well.
The group of girls watched as the two jumped through a small well together and disappear inside it. Giving a shrug Alex urged Verie, Laruda, and Soree forward telling them to go after she went to see if it was safe for them. Not wanting to argue with the stronger yokai the other three nodded and watched as their eldest friend jumped into the well.
Alex watched as the bottom of the small well came closer and closer until it just disappeared into a purple vortex. Slightly surprised she looked up to find that she could no longer see the faces of her friends staring at her falling form. Finally feeling the ground under her feet; looking up she noticed she was in the well again, but it looked younger then it had when she jumped in and she could see the sky above her instead of darkness of the old shed. Alex stood at the bottom of the well deciding to wait for the other three to arrive.
She didn't have to wait long as Verie's form seemed to just appear from no where; soon followed by Laruda's then Soree's. "I'll help you guys out." Alex said as she began to lift Laruda up by the waist. Laruda grabbed the edge of the well and lifted herself up into the open air. She was soon followed by Soree both girls stared at the forest in front of them. Back in the well Alex and Verie stood for a little while looking at the top of the well.
"I think we're in the past." Alex voice was distant as she stared at exit to the well.
Verie looked at her astonished. "Why do you say that, Alex?" She asked looking at her friend. She couldn't help but noticed the almost nostalgic look in her black eyes. Oh Alex… Her eyes took sadden as she stared at her friend.
"Because the air, it's… clean…" Her harsh voice trailed to a soft whisper; her black eyes going back to their normal harsh hollows. "Come on." Alex gently picked up the smaller girl, holding her firmly as she gracefully jumped from the inside of the well to in front of her other two friends. She glared at the four that stared at her group as she let Verie down gently behind.
"Oh my god it's a yokai!" Sango's shout seemed to echo in the otherwise silence woods. "How did it come through the well?"
"There's no time for explanations!" The monk Miroku said as he brought his staff into a fighting position. "We have to stop it from hurting those other ladies!" Nodding Sango pulled off her weapon as well, aiming it at the demon that stood protectively in front of the group of girls that had just come out of the well; though the two fighters seemed to miss this and the fact that Inuyasha did nothing to fight this other girl.
"No! Wait!" Kagome shout brought the attention of the two that were about to charge. "She's"
"No." Alex cut the younger girl off not taking her black eyes from the monk and demon slayer. "Let them."
"What? But" Kagome was once again cut off by a loud war cry from Sango as she through her giant boomerang like weapon at the yokai.
Soree, Laruda, and Verie all stepped back from their friend as she waited for the projectile to get closer. Dust shot from the ground as the weapon went over it heading towards the seemingly defenseless yokai. When it looked like the boomerang would hit the girl a cloud of dust flew from the ground and made the impact impossible to see. Sango shouted in triumph thinking it was a direct hit. Soree smirked while Laruda and Verie smiled. The dust began to slowly disappear revealing the form of the supposed dead demon holding the boomerang in one hand, the other tucked lazily in the pocket of her black pants.
"How?" Sango's voice echoed what was in all of the Inu-gumi's thoughts. Miroku looked at the shocked Sango and decided that it was now his turn to try and dispose of the threat before them.
Seeing what he was about to do, Verie ran quickly in front of her best friend. "That's enough!" She shouted annoyed. "I'm Kagome's older cousin! Alex may be a demon, but you have no right to attack her like this!" Verie felt something soft encircle her waist; looking down she saw it was her friend's fluffy tail. "Alex?" The said girl gave her a small smile and rewrapped her tail around her own waist.
"She's telling the truth." Kagome said walking from behind the monk and demon hunter. "Alex is a demon, but I don't think she's bad. I mean look at how nice she is to my cousin." Kagome smiled at Alex after she stated this.
"Ok now that that's settled, can we go now?" Inuyasha's voice broke the conversation as he began to walk away; soon followed by Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kirrara and Shippou. Readjusting their backpacks the other four began to follow as well. Laruda kept looking down at the little fox demon then at Alex then back again wanting nothing more then to run up and hug him to death. Finally giving into the urge she ran to catch up with the six in front of her, Soree following closely, and took the little fox-demon into her hold hugging him fiercely.
"Ooh so cute!" Laruda shouted joyfully holding the fox to her chest. Soree and Kagome's group couldn't help but laugh.
Verie smiled at her cousin and friends; they all seemed to get along. Her smile faded as she looked over at her best friend. Feeling the stare, Alex turned to her black orbs to Verie then looked back ahead of her staring at her chibi Laruda and her mischievous friend Soree.
"Those two could get along with the devil had they ever met him." Alex whispered to her closest friend in amusement.
Verie laughed at the thought, picturing Soree, Laruda and the devil playing hide and seek. "Yea I could most definitely see that." Her giggles subsided as she looked at the beautiful scenery as a small village came into view. "So…This is the past. It's so beautiful."
"And so clean. I never knew that nature could smell so…" Her voice trailed as she inhaled deeply. "…so good." Looking ahead again she smiled. While talking she and Verie had stopped walking and now the rest of their little group were waiting at the entrance to the little village; Laruda and Soree waving vigorously at them to hurry. Alex's smile turned into a mysterious smirk as her arm encircled Verie's waist. "Hold on." The whisper echoed in Verie's head as she and Alex disappeared, only to reappear inside the village and behind her surprised friends.
A shout brought the group from their fun. "Yokai! Hurry and go get Lady Kaede!" Turning around, after releasing Verie, Alex noticed that the village men had formed a semi-circle around her. Her face loosing any sign of emotion almost immediately as she stared at the humans who dared threaten her with… farming tools; ok this was just getting ridiculous.
"Move aside and let me see." An elderly lady came into view, hobbling closer to Alex. The yokai, being much taller then the slumped over women, looked down at her darkly. "Demon, for what purposes have ye come to this village?" The aforementioned girl only raised a black eyebrow at her, not answering her question. After not receiving and answer after a minute had passed, Kaede continued. "If ye won't answer then ye must leave or I will expel"
"Kaede! Wait, she's with us!" Kagome's shout cut off the old women's rant as Kagome ran to the two girls already inside the village. Seeing that it was Kagome the villagers began to back off as life in the village just went back to normal. Kids played in the streets; it was almost like everyone was normal if only a little more cautious of the new comers.
"Kagome, this demon girl be ye friend?" Kaede's voice sounded a bit weary, but at the other girls nod; she gave a small bow of apology to the yokai she had threatened. "Then I must apologize for my rude actions towards ye, lady."
Alex looked down at the older women again. "Not all demons are as kind as I am old women, I would not suggest you use that threat on another demon." Alex's voice was cold, and it frightened Kaede to no end. "If I had wanted I would have already taken your life as well as the lives of those who had threatened me." Alex turned her head to the side not looking at the elderly she was addressing. "Feel glad I am kind, another demon might just take what I had decided not to." Kaede's form was shaking as the beautiful demon-ness walked past her to explore the small village.
"Don't worry. Alex is actually really nice; she just thought that it would be best if she warned you, so that you and your village would be ok in the future." Verie's kind and caring voice penetrated the fear that Alex's cold one had established. "Wow what a cute little town… err is it called a village… Hey Alex?" She ran to catch up with Alex curiosity getting the best of her.
"Hey! I just remembered!" Kagome's shout stopped Soree and Laruda from running to the other two in front of them, "Tonight's the new moon! Inuyasha I think we should stay here for tonight." Inuyasha scuffed out a fine and jumped into a nearby tree. "Great! I can show Verie and the others around!" She said as she, Shippou, Laruda, and Soree ran up to the other to; who had paused to wait for the others.
Sango and Miroku looked at the group of girls for a second then glanced at each other; with a shrug they ran up to the moving group calling for them to wait, Kirrara running beside Sango's leg. Kagome began to show the new members of her group around the village as Sango, Miroku, and Shippou pointed out other things that they each liked from time to time. The tour had only taken an hour, since the village was so small, and it was only just starting to get dark outside so the group split up. Kagome went to talk to Inuyasha at the foot of a hill that overlooked the village; Sango and Miroku talked with Kaede about what supplies the group would need; Laruda, Soree, Shippou and Kirrara played a game of tag, some other children joined in soon after they started; and Alex and Verie went for a walk around the village, just to explore a little.
"It's so peaceful here." Verie's sweat voice broke through the comfortable silence that had consumed the pair.
"Yea… it really is…" They would have been happy here… Alex's voice was gentle as she watched a group of kids play. She noticed one of the children fall to the ground and begin to weep. Walking a little faster she swooped down to the little boy who had fallen; the other kids, being scared of the older yokai, backed away slowly as some of the other villagers watched closely to see what she would do to the boy who fell. "It's alright little one, let me help." Her voice was soft and she smiled gently to help ease the child's obvious fright. "Where does it hurt?"
He nodded almost mesmerized by the kind demon that was helping him. "My knee hurts." He managed to sniffle out from between sobs. Alex nodded with a smile taking his small hands away from the injured limb
"Verie you have a first aid kit still?" Alex turned to her friend after smiling at the boy.
"Oh yea hold on." Verie sat by the pair, took off her backpack and began to rummage through it. "Alex is usually injuring her self or others so I keep it close by." She told the confused child with a giggle, causing the boy to giggle as well. By this time many more villagers had gathered watching the three closely; including Kaede, Sango and Miroku. "Here we are!" Verie exclaimed pulling a semi-translucent box from her pack and handing it to Alex.
Opening the box, Alex took out a band-aid, and an alcohol wipe. She ripped open the packet and took out the small wipe, unfolding it. "Now this might sting a little, but it will help keep it clean and disinfected, which is a good thing." She told the sniffling child gently. She ran the wipe over the wound and winced when she heard another whimper from the boy. After thoroughly cleaning the wound Alex brought it closer to her lips and blew gently easing the pain that the boy felt; once she heard him stop whimpering she looked up. "Better?" At his nod she tore open the band-aid and placed it over his knee covering the scrape; she couldn't help but notice just how white his skin looked before she put the band-aid over it. "There you go." She said with a smile as she helped the boy to stand. "Does that feel better?"
The boy's face lit up with a bright smile. "Yea!" He jumped into the now standing demons arms. Sighing at this the small crowned began to disperse. "Thank you so much Miss Yokai!" He looked up at her with bright brown eyes. "My name is Shingo, what's yours Miss Yokai?"
Petting his chocolate colored hair she answered with a small smile. "Alex." She kept looking down at the boy with a sad look in her black eyes. Jacob…
The look did not go unnoticed by Verie. "And I'm Verie." She said putting her hand on Alex's shoulder. "Tell me Shingo, where are your parents?" Verie asked looking around for an adult to claim the young child. Shingo looked down with sad eyes.
Another boy walked up to the three with a smug smile on his face. "He don't have parents! He's a hanyou orphan that Lady Kaede found wonderin' the forest a week ago." The boy turned his attention to the other one behind the Yokai's leg. "An' no one here will take 'im either."
Alex and Verie looked down at the boy that was hiding behind Alex's legs; studying him for the first time. He was small, no more then five years of age with long brown, messy hair falling to the bottom of his shoulder blades and framing his face. Large round brown eyes slightly slanted with cat like pupils and the white area had a slight reddish tint. The small black spotted, brown tail that protruded from his lower waist was tucked between his legs in fright. And last but not least two rounded cat-like ears where folded down on top of his head as a sign of submission and sadness.
"How did we miss that?" Verie asked astonished. Shingo, thinking that she meant that he disgusted her, began to slowly back away from the two who had helped him earlier.
Seeing his frightened movements Alex swept down quickly and picked up the small boy, cradling him to her chest. "I could not care if they despise you, we'll take care of you from now on, young one." Alex purred to the child in her arms in order to help soothe his fears of her away; it was what her mother would do when she was his age.
"You mean you don't hate me because I'm only a stupid half demon?" The boy's voice sounded hopeful.
"Of course not! Alex here is Neko yokai, too" Verie coughed slightly after this statement, "how could we ever hate someone as utterly adorable as you." she said petting the boy's head. "Besides you're obviously part of the family now, one big weird family." The tow elder ones laughed at the private joke that she made. Verie turned her gaze from Shingo to Alex. "We should go find the others. If we're going to take him with us we have to tell that Kaede person and the others that we are." The sun was almost completely set and the boy began to change into his human form slowly.
The boy looked up surprised. "You're really going to take me?" His eyes began to shine happily and he hugged on to the demon that carried him when she nodded. "Thank you momma-Alex, Aunt Berie." He whispered as he began to fall asleep in the Yokai's warm grasp; the five year old not quite able to say Verie's name properly yet.
Alex and Verie stopped in their track and looked at the sleeping boy in surprise. Looking back up at each other they mouthed 'momma' and 'aunt' then looking back at the boy they smiled. He wrapped his slowly shrinking tail around Alex's arm and snuggled deeper into her body warmth.
"I suppose it has gotten late huh?" Verie said with a smile as she looked from Shingo to the sky.
"Yea." Alex whispered, fearing she would wake the small child. "It is. Let's go to the old women's place." Verie nodded and they went to the hut in the middle of the village that Kagome had shown them when they first arrived.
Soree and Laruda were waiting 'patiently' outside of the hut that belonged to Kaede when they found their way back; the two already ready for bed in their pajamas and Laruda's hair was already pulled into a long braid. It was already completely dark, and with no moon out there was very little light, meaning that the two of them had gotten lost trying to find the right hut and ended up walking around the village three times before the finally got to the right hut. Soree stood tapping her foot, annoyed; and Laruda was pacing in a slight groove she had cause in worry.
"Where have you been?!" Soree all but shouted, making the bundle in Alex's arms shift slightly; and bring the others in the hut out to stare at the scene that was being made by the four new companions.
Seeing Shingo shift, Verie quickly turned to her friends putting her fore finger to her lips. "Shush! You'll wake him up!" She said pointing to what Alex was carrying.
Laruda had long since stopped her pacing when her two friends had came back to the hut they where supposedly sleeping in. Being the ever curious one, Laruda slowly crept up to Alex to see just 'who' Soree would wake up with her big mouth. Looking in her friends arms she gasped, causing Soree to come over as well. What they saw made their eyes go wide: there in Alex's arms was a small boy with a tail and cat ears that were slowly growing shorter, since he was only a hanyou and it was the new moon. Not being able to contain herself; Laruda scooped the small hanyou into her arms, effectively waking the child up in the process.
Shingo's eyes widened in fright staring at the two new girls who had taken him from his new found momma and aunt. His lower lip began to quiver and tears formed in his big chocolate eyes. "Momma! Momma! Help me, momma!" He began to struggle in the strangers arms.
Laruda looked confused when Alex suddenly took him from her arms and began to purr comforting words to the small boy. "Momma?" She asked looking at the pair.
"Yea, kinda weird but when we said that we would take him with us and take care of him he called Alex momma and I am 'Aunt Berie'." Verie answered with a shrug. "I think it's because Alex is a Neko like him, and he's still so young that it just seemed natural to him to call us that."
After he had settled down some Alex set Shingo down in front of Laruda and Soree; giving him a gentle pat towards the two. "Their friends of mine and Verie's, Shingo."
The boy looked at his adopted mother. "Really?" at her nod he slowly walked up to the two girls, only to notice even more strangers and Lady Kaede behind the two. Stopping abruptly, he turned back to Alex. "Are they momma's friends too?" He asked a little scared, but when Alex once again nodded and Verie smiled he continued to walk slowly towards them, stopping again when he was in front of Laruda and Soree. With a timid smile he introduced himself. "Hi momma's friends, I'm Shingo." After he stated this he ran shyly back behind Alex's long legs.
Laruda giggled as he poked his head from behind Alex's leg; his little ears and tail now completely gone. "Well hey there!" She said as she walked closer and knelt down to meet his large eyes. "I'm Laruda McKinney! But you can call me Aunt Laru, ok?"
"Aunt Laru?" Looking back up, he saw Verie smile and nod. "If Aunt Berie likes it then ok!" Shingo quickly latched onto Laruda. "Hi Aunt Laru!"
Soree also knelt by the two. "And you can call me Uncle Soree!" She said with a large grin, making those adults who didn't know her fall over at the word 'Uncle'.
Shingo tilted his head to the side a little. "But you're a girl, aren't you?" At her enthusiastic nod he turned to Alex, confused. When she shrugged and nodded, saying it was alright, he turned back to Soree. "Alright Uncle 'Ree…" He sounded unsure but at her big smile he unlatched himself from Laruda and hugged Soree. "Now I have a big family!" He said happily a bit giddy from these turn of events.
"Shingo you go with Shippou, the fox boy, and Kirrara, the cat, and go to bed. I need to talk with the other grown ups about a few things." Alex's voice had already taken a motherly tone to it when she addressed the boy; the tone seemed almost practiced, as if she had used it many other times before this.
"Alright momma." He said as he ran up to Alex and hugged her, doing the same for his Aunts and 'Uncle'. "Night, night." He then ran up to the slightly older fox demon and the small cat demon like he was told to. "Hi I'm Shingo! Momma says its bed time, so can you show me where to go?" With a nod the three disappeared into the hut.
"So ye wish to take the young hanyou with ye?" Kaede asked cautiously, still not forgetting the last time the demon-ness had spoken. When Alex and Verie nodded she continued. "I have to agree with this course of action. When I had first brought the child into the village many thought it best that he be killed for he was a hanyou and dangerous. I know that in time they might grow to accept him, but I fear by that time the damage will be done, and irreparable at that."
Nodding at her explanation Alex decided to speak. "I would have taken him rather you agreed to it or not." Her voice was dark once again as she addressed the elderly. "The adults would have eventually accepted him, but the children never would have. They took their parents fear of the boy to heart, and being so young it would have stuck through for their entire life. He needs to be raised with his own kind anyway. As a cat demon, like he is, I will be able to teach him what he will need to know; like what his abilities and his true strength. You humans could not hope to teach him these things nor any of the other things he will need." Her voice had gone softer during her small speech. Her eyes narrowed darkly until just slits remained the white around her black orbs began to bleed red and her voice turned ominous. "I will not allow Shingo to die just because he is different then a human is, never again." At her deadly tone the Inu-gumi and Kaede backed away from her.
Soree, Laruda, and Verie also took on different looks of their own. Verie's eyes began to fill with unshed tears and turned from their green-blue shade to a dark ocean blue color as she looked at Alex. Laruda's face turned from happy to angry in seconds as she closed her tear filled blue eyes tightly, a tear falling down her cheek; her hands forming into tight fists. Soree's normally merry brown eyes turned black and narrowed into dark slits and her teeth clenched tightly together in furry.
Kagome looked from her cousin to her new friends as their features became darker then they had been only moments ago. "What's wrong?" Her voice was soft from fear of angering the already livid girls. As if her voice had broken their thoughts each of the four girls lost their angered/sad looks and replaced them with their normal faces.
"Nothing Kagome-chan." Verie's voice still held a bit of sadness in it still, but it was well covered. "Just some bad memories, that's all, nothing to worry about, really." Slowly her voice became normal again.
"We leave early in the morning, correct?" Alex asked turning her eyes to Kagome, who nodded. "Then let's get some rest come on." With that said the four went to join their smaller companions. Alex and Verie slept on either side of Shingo; Alex wrapping her long tail tightly around his form to keep him warm as he cuddled closer to the older demon. Laruda slept on the other side of Alex with Soree on her other side. After getting comfortable each of the girls fell asleep, until only Alex was left awake listening to the rest of the group talk.
"It had to be something bad if her eyes started to start to bleed red." Sango's voice filtered into Alex's pointed ears. "I've never seen such a dark color of red before either, strange."
"Yea… I've never seen Verie so upset… not since their funeral." Kagome's sad voice came though the air, as she remembered the painful event.
"I wonder what was so sad to make them get so angry." Miroku's statement sent the group into silent thought. "It had to be a tragic event."
"Feh! Who cares I'm tired let's go to sleep." Inuyasha scuffed out breaking the tensed silence. In truth the demon-ness had scared him at that moment, and he wanted to forget it ever happened.
"He's right… ye four have a long journey ahead with yer new companions." Kaede's horse voice came through sensibly. "Ye will need yer rest." Her voice came closer.
Kaede came into the dark hut pushing the two other girls inside. "Ye, monk Miroku, may sleep outside or in that hut across the way, ye as well Inuyasha." She said sternly when the perverted monk tried to enter the hut.
"But I've always slept in here before this, why must I sleep else where now?" he sounded disappointed.
"Because now there are far too many young women in here now and that demon-ness would have yer head should ye grope at her or her friends, I am sure of it." Kaede said sharply as she pushed Miroku out the door. Pouting the monk allowed the old women to push him out. "Now ye go find another place to sleep!"
Soon enough after that everyone was settled into comfortable places as Kagome slept on her older cousin's empty side, Shippou crawling into her arms as silently as the sleepy fox child could, and Sango settled on the other side of Shippou putting her hand jus below Kagome's arms, the small cat demon settling in the small space between Shippou and Sango.
Kaede couldn't help but give a small smile at the picture that was made by the small group of two small boys, a small cat and six girls made. They formed a small semi-circle in the middle of her hut each spread comfortably on the mats that were given to them. Shaking her head the older women went to the back of the hut where she slept and slowly she too fell asleep.
Once she was sure that everyone around her was asleep, Alex glanced around the dark hut then sniffed the air; sure that there was nothing around that could harm anyone she cared for so she slowly aloud her self to fall into a deep and disturbed sleep.
Dream
"Alex!" A shadow of a little boy about six with a tail and little pointed ears appeared. "Come on big sister! Let's play."
Another shadow, about 18 and a girl, appeared with the boy. This one had the same tail and ears, but her hair was longer and gave off a golden glow. "Yea come on little sis." An angelic laugh filled the empty space. "Let's go play."
Alex smiled at the image of two as they began to play. More shadows began to form.
A woman stood off to the side, her lushes' tail waving softly in the wind and her short hair giving the same glow as the other girls did. "Alexzandrea why don't you go play too, you're homework can wait for a little while, it's alright." She laughed. "Now don't give me that look… I'm your mother and I said play." She made a motion towards her other two siblings.
A boy shadow, about 15, appeared and ran to the two that were playing his long tail swaying happily behind him. "Come on Alex!" He shouted happily. "You don't want to make me sad do you, big sis?" His deep laughter echoed through the area as he played with the other tow.
Alex watched the four people playing for a second then laughed and began to walk up to her family, when the images began to fade into another scene.
The smell of blood filled her hyper-sensitive nose; all around her there was nothing but bloody corpses. In the middle stood the same 15 year old boy holding the six year old boy in his bloody hands trying to protect him from the dark men that stood above them. The two here behind the other two women that looked as if they had died protecting the two younger boys; the younger of the two had a wounded leg making it impossible for escape.
"Alex! Help us!" The six year old shouted reaching for her, the tears and fright apparent in his small voice. "Please!"
Alex ran to the two boys as fast as she could, but they never got any closer.
The men pointed their guns at the two boys and the older one quickly turned his body to protect his younger brother… A shot rang out in the air. "Alex…" The 15 year old fell to the ground, trapping the six year old beneath him on accident.
Alex tried to run faster, but she still didn't get any closer to the boy.
"Help m" Another shot cut him off as his dead eyes stared back at Alex as the men laughed in triumph.
End
Alex's eyes shot open. Panting slightly she looked around quietly as she sat up slowly, unraveling her tail from Shingo's small frame. A dream… Looking out the door of the hut they had slept in the night before she noticed the sun was going to rise soon meaning it was only about five am. No… a nightmare… Hearing a small noise Alex turned from the door to the sleeping circle of friends; it was Shingo. She smiled at the boy who was sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his tired eyes.
"Momma?" He stood and walked up to the older demon. "What's wrong momma?"
"Nothing Shingo." Alex said patting his now black, ear-less head; much to his disappointment. She laughed as Verie slowly began to rise. "Your ears and tail will be back soon. How did you sleep?"
Shingo gave a big happy smile when she said this. "I slept great momma!" His little voice seemed to wake the other occupants of the hut, excluding Kaede. "Momma kept me so warm!" He giggled as the sun touched his small body. Once he was touched by the morning sun his ears and tail popped back into their respective places and his hair turned lighter. "Look my ears and tail! Their back!" He giggled again as he tried to catch his own tail.
Alex smile at the little boy, then turned back to the now awake group. "Kagome, Sango… why don't you two go wake up those sleeping boys. We'll clean up here and gather some supplies." She suggested lightly.
"Yea ok!" Kagome walked tiredly out of the hut followed by the just as sleepy Sango. Not long after the two girls exited the hut and go to the boy's did they hear Kagome's loud shout. "SIT" A loud bang and a sharp slap was heard and the ones who were left in the hut ran to see what had happened.
Outside the strange scene greeted four surprised faces, one girl with a raised eyebrow, and two shacking heads. There was Kagome and Sango looking wide awake and happy while Inuyasha sat in a small whole eating dirt, and Miroku was slumped dizzily against the trunk of the tree a few feet away from the two girls, a large red hand print marring his right cheek.
"Well I feel better now! Don't you Sango-chan?" Kagome asked with a big happy smile on her face. Sango gave a happy nod as well as the two bounced back to the group.
The others sweat dropped. "Well… ok?" Laruda said with a shrug and the girls went back inside.
Alex looked down at the boy she would now be in charge of. He wore tattered, torn and dirty clothes, his brown hair was greasy and full of dirt and tangles, and his skin was covered in caked on dirt and grime. She remembered just how milky white his skin was after she had cleaned the wound with the alcohol wipe. Her eyes narrowed.
"Kagome, Sango… Where is the nearest river or lake?" Her eyes never left the youth she had adopted. The group looked at her confused then looked at the boy; gasping at what they saw, he was filthy.
The boy looked confused at the reaction to his appearance then turned back to his adopted mother. "Why do you need a river momma?" He asked curiously.
The demon-ness smiled gently at the boy. That's why I hadn't realized he was a hanyou… the filth covers his sent…"So that I may clean you Shingo."
"I get a bath?" His eyes looked a bit excited. "Alright… but I have no other clothes, what am I gonna wear, momma?"
Alex looked around for a moment. "Hmm…" Alex strolled into the back of the hut to where Kaede was still sleeping. "Old woman." She said softly, nudging Kaede with her foot waking the older women up. "I need a favor." When the woman nodded for her to continue she went on. "Shingo needs some clothing. Get some form your villagers. If they need a reason tell them that it's payment for the way he was treated. Give them the choice of being killed by me or giving the boy clothing. I'm going to take him to bathe in a lake nearby."
"Wait…" Kaede's voice was timid. "Ye would not truly destroy this village for clothes would ye?" She couldn't hide the desperation in her old voice.
"I wouldn't. But why should they know this? I think Shingo has earned his right to those clothes." Alex's voice held very little emotion. "Don't you agree, old woman?" She went back to the main part of the hut; picking Shingo and her backpack up, and following Kagome and Sango out of the hut. After being told that Sango would take the two to the lake in the middle of the forest, because Kagome wanted to help gather some more supplies the three got ready to go to the river, Alex making sure she had her bath accessories and plenty of towels and a swim suite.
Kaede couldn't stop her smile from forming. "I suppose he deserves at least that much form these villagers." She whispered watching the demon-ness, hanyou, and demon slayer get ready. She left to a hut not to far from hers to get a couple of outfits for the young boy.
She returned with two sets of clothes, one pair of black slippers and a long nighty: one a dark brown and black, while the other was a light red and blue, the nighty was white with long sleeves and would cover his small legs. She walked up to the three that were about to set off for the river in Inuyasha's forest. "Here ye go Alex-sama; these should fit the young one." Alex only nodded her thanks and took the bundle from the old women. After the exchange Sango, Alex and Shingo set off for the river.
The three took about twenty minuets to get to the small lake in the middle of the large forest. "Um… Can you find your way back on your own?" Sango asked as she looked at the two she had led to the lake. "I want to go help the others, but if I need to I can"
Alex cut her off. "I know my way back, no need to worry Sango." The yokai gave Sango a kind smile and ushered her back the way they had just come from. "Now go back and tell the others we'll be back soon enough."
Just then Verie, Laruda and Soree broke through the trees panting softly, their bag swung loosely over their shoulder.
Verie spoke first. "Hey we wanted to join you guys… Oh Sango! Kagome said she wanted help picking food for our 'long journey ahead' so I told her I'll go get you." Sango nodded saying ok as she walked back towards the village.
"Hi Aunt Berie! Aunt Laru! Uncle 'Ree" Shingo waved at the new comers happily. "Momma and I are gonna take a bath!" His voice was light and happy as Alex began to strip the stiff clothing off of the boy's body.
"Alright Shingo, I want you to go to Verie and hide you eyes while I change, ok?" Alex told him after she finished stripping his clothes off. The Boy nodded and ran to his adopted aunt hiding his eyes in here night shirt.
Verie blushed and closed her eyes tightly, while the other two went into the forest to change into their suites. Alex grabbed her swim suite from her bag, a black bikini with silver stars set randomly around the top and bottom. She stripped quickly and pulled the suite on. "Alright now its Aunt Verie's turn Shingo, come here." The boy removed his face from his aunt's shirt and stared at his momma.
"Wow…" He looked awed. "Momma looks beautiful!" He smiled after he said this and ran to Alex. She scooped him into her arms and turned to give Verie more privacy.
"Alright! I'm done now." Verie's voice sounded clearly to the two demons. By this time both Laruda and Soree had finished changing as well.
They turned and again the younger boy looked awed. "Aunt Berie looks beautiful too!" Verie laughed. She wore a one piece blue-green suite that looked like it had ocean waves on it. He turned to Soree and Laruda: Soree wore a simple black one piece with a skull over her right breast, and Laruda wore a dark blue short and tank-top like bathing suit with pink and yellow flowers printed on it. "Aunt Laru is pretty too… Uncle 'Ree you pretty like Aunt Laru is!" The toddler giggled and clapped his small hands.
"Thanks Shingo, now lets get you clean, shall we." Shingo nodded enthusiastically and went to jump into the lake. When he was in mid air Alex's tail shot out and wrapped around his waits.
"Now, now Shingo." She brought the boy into her arms and unfurled her tail from his waist. "No need to go jumping into the water. You don't even know how to swim… do you?" She asked as she and Verie walked into the shallow part of the lake with Soree and Laruda; the later two began to play a little off shore from Verie.
"No momma… I don't." Shingo's blush made the girls laugh. Alex nodded and put him down taking his hand and walking over to the shore line where the water was the shallowest.
"Alright then. Now hold still. Verie hand me the shampoo from my bag." Verie rummaged through Alex's bag and pulled out a large black bottle of shampoo with the English words 'TRESemme' in bold white words handing it to Alex. "Ok now hold your breath; I'm going to dunk your head under the water." Shingo nodded and did as he was told. Alex quickly submerged the boys head under the water and pulled his head up just as quickly, the grime already starting to fall out of his hair. After this she began to lather the shampoo onto his scalp.
"Wow that smells good momma." The older demon smiled saying that's why she liked this shampoo.
It took ten minuets and five lather/rinses in order to get all of the dirt, grime and oil from his small head, ears and tail. After finally getting his hair clean she told him to stand up while Verie pulled out a large white bottle with the same logo in black on it. Pouring the conditioner into her hand, Alex gently rubbed it all through out Shingo's lighter brown/blond hair. At first she was a little shocked when his light brown-blond hair was revealed after all the dirt had finally fallen out. After she was sure she had spread the conditioner generously throughout all of his hair and on his ears and then on his tail; she gathered the liquid soap and lufa that Verie had set out for her while she was putting the conditioner in Shingo's hair and fur. Putting a generous amount of soap on the lufa she rubbed it under the water for only a second then began to gently scrub the dirt from the boy's skin. Alex rinsed him off rubbing the conditioner from his now soft hair and fur. Putting more soap onto the lufa and repeated the process five more time, turning the boys once muddy dark skin back into his original milky white skin. Once all of this was done the three went and played in the water with the other two for about twenty more minuets until Alex thought it was a good time to go back to the village.
"Alright we had better get back now, you guys." Alex said looking at the two that were splashing at each other.
"Okay momma!" The boy began to wade his way through the water up to Alex, Verie not far behind him with a smile on her face. Soree pouted about having to leave so soon and Laruda laughed merely at her pout telling her how cute she looked.
Alex took out one of her towels she had brought with her, the fluffiest on she had, using it to dry off Shingo. The other girls grabbed their own towels and began to separate to dry off and change.
When the other girls were out of sight the wind picked up around the two demons; effectively scaring the small toddler. Alex held him tightly to her, keeping the warm towel around his small frame. Her eyes narrowed into to slits and she demanded the creature causing this frightful wind to reveal it's self; what she saw shocked her.
A young ghostly girl appeared from the wind. She had dark grey skin that light could not seem to touch, short spiked hair that covered the left side of her face: the left half was deep pure black, the other half was a light dull grey far lighter then her skin tone. She wore a strange fairy-like pure white outfit, and her legs were none-existing except for the ghostly grey tail that waved beneath her. Her slightly slanted eyes, or at least the one you could see, were a light grey, almost white, with deep black short lashes and eyebrows. Beneath her eye was a strange line that underlined her eye and curved down her cheek to the bottom of her mouth. In the girl's arms was a rabbit that had been sewn back together in many places.
Alex released Shingo and stood up straight. "Why is a deadly hallow spirit here?"
The spirit smirked and pointed to the boy; he gulped and quickly hid behind his mother. Alex looked down at Shingo. "He is not one of us, why do you wish this." The spirit once again pointed to Shingo, and then she trailed her finger slowly up to Alex. "I see." Alex stepped away from her young adopted son and pushed him towards the ghost.
"Momma?" Now Shingo was frightened and confused. Why is momma handing me over to the scary thing?
Alex looked down at Shingo sharply while the ghost slowly tilted her head towards him. Momma is not giving you up little one… her voice trailed through the wind as she spoke making it sound off every where. By this time the other three girls had managed to come back to the river bank. They each knew what the creature was, for they had seen a similar one around Willie, Alex's eldest little brother, so they knew what the ghost was here for. You are now my charge… she floated closer to the boy, circling him, It is my job to protect you… and watch over you… as my kind has done for your mother's kind for generations…I am your new guardian… Her voice was drawl and slow as she spoke explaining why his mother had pushed him forward.
"This ghost is assigned to protect my young, you, Shingo." Alex's voice seemed slightly distant as she spoke about the ghost and her other three friends didn't miss this. "She only wants to get to know you right now." She bent down to Shingo's level and gave him an encouraging smile.
Shingo nodded and moved closer to the spirit. "You're gonna be my new friend?" He seemed shy and uncertain at talking to his supposed protector. She seemed so scary to him; he didn't see how she could be a protector.
The ghastly girl gave a sardonic smile to the mother and child in front of her. I am quite interesting in looks… but I assure you I only protect and…guide you… the child nodded and walked closer to the girl. She gave a smile and then zoomed right into Shingo's body, joining in with him. When she exited his bodyher tail stayed behind, connected to his own spirit, at least until he was old enough and wise enough to take care of him self. Now I will be with you until I am no longer needed…You know…I was your mother's guardian as well… but she stopped needing me after her thirteenth year…will you be like that too…
Alex looked away not saying anything. "Hey!" Verie ran up to the ghostly girl. "I knew I recognized you! You were Alex's shadow for the longest time." Verie couldn't help the smile at seeing her friend's old guardian and shadow.
"Hey why don't I recognize her?" Soree's voice sounded a little put off by the fact that she didn't know this ghostly girl. Laruda nodded also wanting to know why this girl was news to her.
Alex never turned her face towards them. "I met you nearing my fourteenth year… she was already gone by the time we met."
She… and I… we separated on unfriendly terms back then…Isn't that right… Alex…? Alex huffed and folded her arms over her chest.
"Unfriendly would be a vast understatement. Wouldn't you say so, Bunny-chan?" The ghost only looked down for a second then smile back up at Alex. "Any way make your self a shadow, we need to get back to that village so we can get going." With that said Bunny's form turned black and she seep to the ground.
"Alright…" Laruda was a little confused but she shrugged it off. "Well let's go! Umm…which way, again?"
Alex looked both ways, they had spent over an hour here and she had completely forgotten which way they had come from. She tried to use her advanced senses, but the scent had long since dissipated. She shrugged and pointed in the direction she thought they should go, west; then, after she and Shingo dressed, they headed off in that direction; the opposite direction they actually need to go.
Meanwhile back at Kaede's village Inuyasha and the gang were leaving, heading to the east where Kagome had sensed a couple of jewel shards, having completely forgotten about the other five that were suppose to travel with them.