Some of you might have read the shorter version of this chapter. Since I have some free time on my hands right now, I've decided to make this chapter a decent length. I hope the characters aren't too OOC.
I'd like to thank A Forgotten Fairy for being my first reviewer. Arigato! .
"talking"
'thinking'
Disclaimer: Me no own Inuyasha, it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I only own a few dozen pics on my computer.
Enjoy!!
When Assana woke up, she had one heck of a headache.
'I guess that troll I knocked out feels about the same when he woke up…'
She looked around to find everybody else asleep. Judging by the position of the moon it was a few hours from sunrise. Her eyes fell on Jaken.
'If he ever does something to me, I'm going to skin him. Alive.' promised Assana to herself.
She tried to go back to sleep, but failed, so decided to do some useful things. First, she covered the campfire with sand so nobody would see that there had been a campfire in the first place. Then she set out to find some breakfast.
It took her a while, but in the end she found a few fruit trees. She gathered a few dozen apples from the tree and made her way back to camp. The sun was already shining, warming the air around her, when Assana arrived at the camp she saw that Sesshomaru wasn't there anymore.
"Where have you been?" came the question from Jaken.
"Chill out dude. I got us some breakfast so you'd better be grateful that you didn't have to do that." Assana showed him the apples she found.
"I'm glad that you're back, Assana-chan. I thought that you left us when I didn't see you. Ooh, you found apples. Can I have one?" said Rin.
Assana smiled and gave Rin an apple.
"If Lord Ice cube doesn't hurry his youkai ass back to camp he's going to miss breakfast." remarked Assana, and ate one of her apples.
"You will not speak this way about Lord Sesshomaru!" shouted Jaken angry.
"Oh stuff it. I speak about him however I like. He doesn't own me or anything. And you, Jaken, you'd better keep your mouth shut or I might take revenge for what you did last night." threatened Assana.
Jaken's face paled, and once again moved a fair distance away from Assana, knowing all too well that she'd make her threat become a reality.
"What did Master Jaken did to you then?" asked Rin curious.
"He hit me on the head with his stick."
"That's not very nice Master Jaken. Lord Sesshomaru always says that fighting is not good, unless it's necessary."
"But she insulted Lord Sesshomaru." protested Jaken.
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No I did not. Well, perhaps I did, but he started it."
"Why, you…."
"That's enough." came a voice from behind Assana.
She turned around. There stood Sesshomaru, his silver hair shimmering in the morning sun. Assana blushed, turning a light shade of pink.
'Why does he has to be so damn good-looking? If only his personality was a bit like his looks it would be much better.'
Sesshomaru noticed Assana blush.
'Why is this wench blushing?'
"But milord, she talked disrespectful of you." Sesshomaru silenced Jaken with one glance.
"Assana-chan found apples." announced Rin to her lord.
Sesshomaru's face expression softened as he looked at the small ningen pup.
"I presume that was the reason why you were gone when I woke up this morning." said Sesshomaru, turning to face Assana. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Hai (yes)." Confirmed Assana.
"Next time, don't leave camp until I say so. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, oh great Lord Sesshomaru." said Assana, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She turned around and sat by the water's edge. She heard Jaken mumble something under his breath.
"Nandato (what did you say), Jaken?" asked Assana sweetly.
"Nothing." replied Jaken, sensing danger once again.
Sesshomaru watched with amusement. 'I guess the wench dislikes Jaken. He might be loyal but not very bright.'
After finishing breakfast, he decided it was time to move on. Jaken made sure he stayed as far away from Assana as possible. Therefore, Jaken ended up in the end of the line. Assana walked next to Rin and Ah-Un, and Sesshomaru, as usual, in front of the line.
"So…where are we going?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
"We're searching for Naraku."
"Naraku? Who the beep is Naraku?"
"Some annoying person who wants to absorb other youkai to get stronger."
"Let me guess. You're trying to kill him just because he tried to absorb you too."
"No, he used Rin as bait to lure me into a trap and then absorb me."
"Then he's nuts. Completely wacko." stated Assana.
"What gave you that idea?"
"I know we don't get along well but even I admit that you're pretty strong. Perhaps even stronger than my dad."
"Who is your father Assana-chan?" asked Rin.
"My father was one of the strongest youkai in our village. He protected the village against all sorts of threats."
"You said 'was'. He's not here anymore, is he?" asked Sesshomaru.
"That's correct. Just like my mom." answered Assana, who felt tears welling up in her eyes. She pushed them back, not wanting Sesshomaru to see her cry.
"Then where did your parents go Assana-chan?" asked Rin.
"They went to the place where we all go when we pass away. They died 5 years ago. I was 12 years old when it happened."
"I'm sorry about your parents. I lost my parents too, they were killed by bandits," said Rin. "Lord Sesshomaru found me and since then I've been living with him and Master Jaken."
'I was already wondering why Rin was with Sesshomaru, but this explains a lot. Still, I find it strange that Sesshomaru would take care of a ningen pup. He can hardly stand me, and I'm a youkai.' thought Assana.
Nobody said a word after that. Everybody was occupied with his/her own thoughts. After a while Assana smelled a familiar sent, drifting to the group on the wind.
'It smells like home. I didn't realize we were this close to my old village.'
Sesshomaru also noticed the scent. 'This scent is almost the same as Assana's scent, although hers is nicer…What am I thinking? She's a rude, arrogant, and cute…Snap out of it!' he mentally slapped himself.
He looked in Assana's direction and saw her smiling to Rin, who was showing her some flowers alongside the road.
'Why can't she smile to me?' Because, said a little voice in his head, you're acting cold and you never say anything nice to her.
'That's not true.' Yes, it is, and you know it. You treat her like an ordinary human.
'I do not. I treat Jaken the same way. And he's a youkai.' Stop making excuses for yourself and loosen up. She could be a perfect mate for you, you know…
'GO AWAY!' The voice in Sesshomaru's head stayed silent. 'Good.'
Then he noticed that Jaken, Rin and Assana were staring at him.
"What?!" snapped Sesshomaru.
Rin and Jaken averted their gaze to some place else. Assana just grinned. Then she asked if she could go ahead.
"Why?"
"Because the village where I used to live when I was little is a few miles down the road."
"Are they also ookami youkai?" asked Rin. Assana nodded, then noticed the fear in Rin's eyes.
"Are you afraid of ookami?" Rin nodded.
"Don't worry, they won't hurt you. I promise." assured Assana.
"To answer your question; no, you may not. We'll go together as a pack." said Sesshomaru.
Assana wanted to protest, but decided against it. Another argue would be useless.
'I wonder if they still recognize me after all these years. The last time I visited the village I was 5.'
Assana was nervous by the time the village came into sight. Two guards stopped them at the gate.
"Who are you and what do you want?" asked guard nr. 1
"My name is Assana. These are Rin, Ah-Un, Sesshomaru and Jaken."
"You're one of us, aren't you?" said guard nr. 2
"Yes, I used to live here when I was little." answered Assana.
"Please, follow me." said guard nr. 1
They followed the guard to the center of the village. All the people on the street were staring at them. It was rather unnerving.
'What are they staring at? Well, I would stare if Sesshomaru walked through my village, but even guys are staring at us.' thought Assana. She felt like a monkey in a zoo.
"Assana, is that you?" spoke a male voice. Assana turned around to see who it was. A tall guy, looking around 35 walked towards her with a smile on his face. He looked vaguely familiar, but Assana couldn't remember from where.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?"
The man laughed. "My name is Sitka, a good friend of your father."
"Oh, right. I'm sorry. It has been such a long time. Nine years or so?"
"That could be about right." said Sitka. Then he turned to the people that stood around them, watching with interest.
"Everybody, this is Assana, whom we all thought was dead!" A loud cheering erupted. Assana turned a brilliant shade of scarlet red.
Sitka noticed Assana's discomfort and invited the whole pack to come to his house. Once inside, Assana asked why they all were so happy.
"Well, everybody assumed you and your brother died in the fire that burned down your village."
'Fire? The village was destroyed by a youkai.' thought Assana.
"Well, as you can see I'm still very much alive. So is my brother, by the way." said Assana with a smile.
"Good to hear. Now tell me, what have you been up to all that time?"
Assana told him everything she and Artan did until the recent split-up. Sitka listened in silence the whole time.
"Why don't you stay here for a while? I have some spare bedrooms so you can sleep there if you like. Unless you prefer to sleep somewhere else." offered Sitka.
They agreed (Sesshomaru needed a little persuasion from Assana) and picked their rooms. Assana had one for herself and Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken shared one. Ah-Un slept outside. Sitka also invited them for diner. He told Assana many stories about the 'adventures' he and her dad had when they were Assana's age.
It made Assana double over with laughter. She didn't know that her father was so clumsy when he was young.
Time flew by and soon Assana was on her way to bed. She was still smiling when she lay in bed, falling asleep within minutes.
You people know what to do, right? (Review, of course!!)
-Lady Of Summer Haze