Disclaimer. Blah blah blah, I don't own any of the characters blah blah blah, don't sue me, blah blah blah, YOU'LL GET NOTIHNG AND LIKE IT!
So here we are. In the middle of demon slayer village. Kohaku seems to be having a blast being back home. Even though we got off on the wrong foot….and even though he tried to kill me….and even though he caused me to empty out more than my stomach…..damn I really shouldn't be happy for the guy but what the hell. Miroku and Kikyo are off learning more about spiritual ways to kill demons so I'm stuck in the middle of a village of demon slayers! I know I said that before but its worth repeating. Also, of course, like every other village I'm getting looks like "Why is THAT here", or "That's DISGUSTING!" or just a good old look of DD (Distrust and Disgust). Fortunately Master Hiko found me and motioned me to follow him. We wound up in pretty nice house. At my silent look he shrugged and said "It's mine."
I sit down and drink the glass of water offered. "So Master how have you been since we parted?"
He looked at me in amusement. "Kami it's only been a few months!"
My ears drop and in a voice I hope doesn't show all my pain. "Feels a lot longer".
He looked at me silently. "I know. And from our match I have a pretty good idea. I have to say that whatever has happened to you has made you stronger. Your heart has never been able to last with mine." Its true. When I release that technique Master ALWAYS beat me. No matter what I did or how hard I tried I'd lose after only a few seconds. "I also can't believe you feel for that miko!" My ears shot straight up and my eyes were as wide as a kitten look down the front end of a speeding semi.
He just laughed. "Come on, you don't think I could read that. She's practically written in your entire heart!". I stay stock still and Master Hiko is looking are me worriedly.
"Master, please do not talk about that ever again. This is something that CAN NOT happen. Please Master, don't speak of this to anyone."
He just rubbed his chin. "I'd like to know why?"
I sigh knowing its something I have to answer. If he even teased about that in front of Kikyo…..all the work and effort I went through to be her friend would be shot up in less than a second. She'd think I was just trying to get her and go all dark and vengeful. "She's my brother's intended mate." Hiko sucked in a breath. He knew what that meant. To kill your enemy you must know your enemy. He knows how serious a potential mate is. Intended is even worse. He just sighs and nods his head. Thank kami something went right…..
"I can't believe it!" said a very familiar voice. Myoga. Great. "Master Tomasaru, do you really intend to steal your noble brother, Lord Inuyasha's MATE!" My hand flashes and flattens him on the ground. I pick him up and shake him awake. Once I see he's awake and coherent I talk in a low deadly voice.
"Listen Myoga. I am trying to keep my brother's mate alive so she can release him from the spell she cast. After that They can do whatever they want and I'll go away. You KNOW I would not betray my brother like that. BUT, you WILL not say anything about my true feelings to either Inuyasha OR Kikyo! Is that understood?"
Myoga could tell I was being serious and also the potential for disaster should I ignore a potential mate…
"My Lord, I apologize for my outburst but I do believe your brother and the Lady Kikyo would under…URK!" I cut him off with my forefinger and thumb. "They are not to know. IS. THAT. UNDERSTOOD!"
Sweating in my hand I can see his little head bobbing up and down furiously as he squawked "I understand!"
"Good." I let him drop and leave Master Hiko's place. Myoga just pissed me off royally so he can just catch up when he could. I went to the headmaster's place and waited for the others. Kohaku was already there. He was the headmaster's son. I guess Sango's line was always head of the demon hunters. I waited around for about an hour before Miroku and Kikyo came in. Miroku had a bruise on his left cheek as well as he seemed to be walking funny….I know it wasn't due to Kikyo cause she was smiling and laughing at his discomfort. If he did anything untoward to her I know Kikyo would be glaring and be radiating an aura of doom that would put Naraku's to shame. The head guy went on about how the jewel was created from Modoriko and a great demon's battle. Just as she was about to die she sealed the demon's and her soul into the Shikon no Tama. I tried to look like I was listening but I heard it before. He then offered to take us to her cave. I remember this as well. Only people Midoriko's spirit allows are permitted entry to the cave. Hope she likes hanyous…
We were stopped by the barrier in front of the cave but the headman asked Modoriko to let us through and she was a good neighbor and did. Damn, that demon was one ugly SOB. Modoriko looks kind of hot….best not to get into those thoughts of a woman that killed lots and lots of demons.
The headman basically said the jewel was composed of Modoriko's spirit and the spirit of the demons. Feeling I had an inkling of something I spoke to the headman. "So basically the jewel is a hanyou?" Man why do I always get stared at like this. Kikyo kind of looked the most pissed with Kohaku and his father come in an impressive second and third. The only one who didn't look pissed was Miroku who was just running his hand through his beard in silent thought.
"Where did you get THAT stupid idea from?" Kikyo raged at me. I guess thinking she was trying to purify a hanyou while dating one didn't sound too good to her ears. Maybe it was something else…
"Well, you got two spirits fighting for control right? You got the human one, Modoriko, and you got the demon one. So you got human and demon stuck together in one body. Hanyou!" I finish with a cheeky grin. Obviously something didn't share my thoughts as Modoriko's body glowed and I went airborne. Man it was like being in a catapult or being shot out of a canon. One second I'm good, the next I'm rocketing out of the cave at mach 8! I land right smack dab in the middle of the village where the same villagers started the SAME whispers I had to put up with earlier. Kami, say a girl is a hanyou and they can't take it. I wait by the village headmaster's house, Kohaku's place, and wait for the others.
The came in after a half an hour. Kikyo still had a pissed off expression but Miroku, Kohaku and even Kohaku's father all had similar expressions of amusement. I just cross my arms and fall on my butt on the floor. "Well it made sense to me. No reason to shoot me out of the place!"
Kikyo looked at me like she wanted to skin me alive. "No reason? You just INSULTED one of the GREATEST miko's Japan has EVER produced! No reason?"
I growled low in my throat and get to my feet. As I pass her I tell her eye to eye, "Sorry if being a hanyou is the mort grievous insult a person can make!" With that I leave them staring. Yeah, now that I think about it being a hanyou IS the worst thing a person can be. Not being one or the other. In any society there are classes. Hanyous are a class of their own. Not quite demons but not human. I love my parents and I'm proud of them but how much can a person ignore. IS a hanyou a person? I still think like I always have. I feel the pain and sting of exclusion. I feel the longings of wanting a companion. I feel the need to have friends.
I sit down in a quiet corner of the village. I try to think of things logically. What's wrong with being a Hanyou? Nothing much. So I have white hair, dog ears, and claws. I'm fast and strong. All and all not too bad. It's the outside factors that get me. Humans hate hanyou. Demons hate hanyou. Hell hanyou hate being hanyou! Its all part of being different. The tallest nail gets hammered down hardest I think the saying goes. Well, not much I can do. I am what I am. Damn I hate all these dark thoughts. I liked ignorance a whole lot better. Hmm, here comes the flee.
"Hey Myoga". The bug literally flew into me.
"Oh Lord Tomasaru, I'm so sorry for doubting you! You can count on me I won't tell Lady Kikyo.."
"Tell me what?" Kikyo replied from over my shoulder.
I screamed in a highly girlish fashion after jumping about 15 feet in the air, literally. I was so engrossed in my thoughts I didn't even smell her coming. Such a nice smell too…..DAMN IT SNAP OUT OF IT. Here comes the ground.
I landed on my feet and I see Myoga sweating in Kikyo's clutches. If he breaks I swear I will come up with a bug spray no matter what it does to the time line…..
"What weren't you going to tell me Myoga?" Kikyo asked in her sweet tone. Her sweet tone is bad. That's about one or two steps shy of the cold "Pissed Off" tone.
"Uhm…well you see…Lord Tomasaru….he ah…" I put my head in my hands as I slump to the ground. He's going to crack. I know my luck by now. Maybe I should get a head start running now….
Myoga was continuing his stuttering performance before he stoipped and took a deep breath. "Lady Kikyo, I can't lie to you. Lord Tomasaru…" Myoga, I am gout to squish you so flat….. "…wanted to know when your birthday was." I facefault to the ground while Kikyo looks at Myoga in confusion.
"That's it?" she asked doubtfully.
Myoga, looking as cool as a cucumber replied "Yes Lady Kikyo. My Lord wanted to know if he should give you a gift for your birthday or if it might be taken in the wrong light. He then told me not to talk about it for fear you might think less of him for doubting whether or not to give you a gift." Myoga, you are one crafty SOB….
She looked at me with a cool expression. "Is that true?"
Aww crap, I know she can read me like a damn book. Well, Hiko taught me how to keep a straight face. Although tossing me off a cliff and checking my face when I imparted a particularly jagged rock wasn't the best way to go about it I think….
"Yea. I didn't want you reading into anything cause I told you I wanted us to be just friends. I didn't want you thinking I wanted to be more than that". Even though I do…
She looked on a bit skeptically before shrugging. "Well I came to get you. We are leaving tomorrow for the Western Lands. It seems there has been a number of demon uprisings there that could be caused by Naraku." I Just sigh and shake my head as she leaves. Myoga is looking at me smugly and I sigh again. What the hell, he earned it. I offer the back of my hand. I hate him drinking from my neck…
Its been about four days since we left for the Western Lands. Damn, I REALLY didn't want to run into Sesshomaru! He hated me and Yasha and the worst part is I know WHY! I got some insight during the Inuyasha movie about our dad's three swords. Sess blames us for Father's death and to be totally honest he's right. If Father had rested after his battle with Riokossei he never would have pushed himself into the grave. He did it for Mother and in extension for us. That's a big reason why I'd never wish to be all human. Father gave his life for us and to simply….wash away his blood and connection would feel like I'm soiling his memory. Ah well, I'm worried over nothing. Japan is a big place. There's no way we'd run into Sess out here….
OK, you'd think after living the life I've lived I'd have learned to shut the hell up about these things. Twenty minutes after I think to myself its impossible I catch his scent not too far off. I keep track of it but don't go toward it. No need, he's coming here. God this is going to make a Springer family reunion look tame….
Ten minutes later I see Sesshomaru in all his glory. That's means in his armor, I like women thank you very much! He just looks at my three companions like bugs. Then turns his gave on me. I can feel his golden eyes narrow in hate and loathing. His eyes shift lower…oh shit my sword!
As if reading my mind he asks "Where did you get that sword little brother?"
I weigh my options when Myoga pops off my shoulder "Lord Tomasaru's sword was forged by the great Totosei, you remember that name Sesshomaru?"
He just focused his gaze on the flea causing him to yelp and jump off my shoulder. "Hey come back here you coward. You get me into the shit and just run away?"
I get the faint reply "Sorry Master, I just remembered I have to mail a parchment!"
I rub my temples. This has not been a good…..well decade. Miroku just decides he wants a bit more information so I oblige. "Kikyo, Miroku, Kohaku, meet Lord Sesshomaru, ruler of the Western Lands. And my half brother."
Sess just looks at me. "Yes, it pains me also to be related to such….filth. To think our Father would stoop so low as to have mistakes such as yourself and Inuyasha"
I tried to rein in my temper. Man I am getting hammered on all sides aren't I? Humans, demons, and now family. Who else can kick me while I lay bleeding on the ground? "Well please feel free to leave my offensive presence whenever you wish" Take that Sessy! I listened and learned to talk a whole lot better than Yasha.
"I'll be happy to. Just give me your sword and I will depart." My hand reflectively grabbed the hilt of my sword. This was my sword. No way was anyone taking it from me.
"Why do you want it? Its forged from MY fangs. You don't even like having hanyou brothers, you really want one made of hanyou FANGS?" He looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps not. I will need to have a demonstration." With that he blurred and punched me right in the face. CRAP was he fast. I roll to my feet and dodge out of the way of his poison whip. Unlike Yasha, I don't have any Robe of the Fire Rat to soak up damage for me. My companions were not idle. Kohaku threw his BAB (Big Ass Boomerang to you new people) only for Sess to swat it away like a fly with his whip. He then struck Kohaku in a smooth motion with it knocking him back into a few bushes.
"ENOUGH! You want a fight Sessy, you got it. Leave them out. Kikyo, Miroku, check on Kohaku. Sess's whip is poisonous." Sess looked surprised at that. I guess he didn't think I'd know that right away.
"Yes let us fight, first lets….clear the area here." With a wave of his hand a blast of gas flew out 360 degrees and knocked everything away in its path. Including Kikyo and the others. Before I could even think to go after them he was on me. I drew my swrod in a quick motion hoping to catch him with the air pressure. He just slid around the displaced air. Damn.
"Surely such….parlor tricks are not your only options little brother?" I smile and my sword starts to glow. I figure I'll start with the small stuff. I want Sess to underestimate me. Although there is no way in hell I can pull off a Bakayuha, backlash wave, maybe a wind scar if I am lucky. I hope that's enough since he doesn't have Tokijin yet.
Kuu Ha Zan! I released the blast of air and Sess let himself get hit. I've seen him move. He could have avoided that easily. He just got up and brushed himself off. Hmm, I think I know how a guy who's bent over in his prison cell with a big black dude behind him feels…..
I snap my sword and cut through my half brothers whip as I strike at him. He dances away and his whip just regrew. Oh crap on a stick. His whip cut my wrist and burned the hell out of it. I drop my sword in reflex and he tosses my around a few times in a circle before letting me go to bounce along the ground a few times. Ouch is a word that does not do me justice right now. I struggle to my feet and see Sess reaching for my sword. I smile cause I think I'm going to see Totosei's failsafe kick in. Sess tried to pick it up only for it to shock him and forcing him to release it. I grinned through my pain.
"What's the matter Sessy? Having trouble learning how to hold a sword?" I really should learn to shut up. He shot straight toward me with claws extending to end my life right there. Fortunately I was able to dodge. Right now I am thanking whatever Kami up there I went through Master Hiko's tie a boulder to your student and have starving wolf demons chase him speed training….
Sess is REAL good. I can't really fight him claw to claw since I never really had much training in that. All my training is just keeping me alive in his assault. One misstep and my ass was history. I need to get my sword back but Sess is a great tactician. He is always keeping me from getting within grabbing distance of the sword. He launches his poison whip at me and I smile. I make sure I'm as close as I can get to do what I got planned.
"Man Sess, that's a nice whip. Must have lots of great uses how do you make it?" I use my claw attack to make him jump out of the way, however one of the lines of energy from my claw stays attached to my finger. I fling it toward my sword and his eyes widen with realization as my whip closes on the hilt and drags it toward my open hand. "Nah forget it, I think I figured it out!"
Forget starting slow! Sess is out for blood. The only thing I can do is try my most powerful attack on him. I don't want to kill him but I don't think I have much choice. I try to feel our demonic energies. His is much bigger than mine….well no time for Aura Envy. I try to look for where our auras meet. An application of energy in that spot in the direction of my opponent will ignite the power in the person's aura and around it. That's the wind scar! I put my energy into the blade to cut where energies meet. His eyes widen in recognition before he tries to escape. A total escape was impossible as the golden energy tore through him. He didn't get the full force of the attack, just the tail end seeing how he was singed and limping I figured it was good enough.
"How..how did you learn of that attack?"
He looks like he's seen a ghost. Not exactly the type of reaction I thought I'd get. "Myoga told me of some of Dad's exploits and his attacks. I developed that and some of my own."
Sess's eyes look almost….haunted. He just turns and walks away. Very VERY weird in a life that weird is normal. I sheathe my sword and mutter what a wonderful life before I take in the scents and try to find my friends. I find them thought they don't look like a happy bunch. Kikyo is crying and Miroku looks like he's not far from it.
"What's wrong?" Kikyo moves her body and I see Kohaku. He doesn't seem to be breathing. Miroku mutters "He's dead".
I just sigh in relief. I really have to learn not to bring this kind of pain onto myself. Kikyo was burning with miko fire and Miroku looked about a half a step from sucking me into his wind tunnel. I raise my hands. "No reason to get upset. I can fix this."
Kikyo's miko aura just got bigger. "Fix it, FIX IT? He's dead you fool, DEAD! How can you fix it? HOW?" My ears dropped at seeing her crying face and raw pain. I just tell her. "Watch"
I draw my sword and focus on the healing and resurrection powers. A poison whip wasn't THAT bad magically. And I am doing this minutes after he died. In fact I might have resurrected Kikyo and not heal her as I thought. Anyway I concentrated on the task at hand and saw those ugly little chainy trolls. With a flash of blue light and a cut they were gone. Kohaku then groaned and opened his eyes. "Man what hit me?" he muttered and Kikyo latched onto him crying in relief. I will not growl or get jealous. Miroku also seemed to be relieved. So was I truth be told. Kohaku died for me. DIED! That's a far cry from the guy who was looking for an excuse to kill me. Kikyo got up looked me in the eye. She looked PISSED! God damn it I just raised someone from the dead, can I get a break?
My answer was a continued glare, a vice like grip to my poor right ear and a march deeper into the forest with only my pain filled cried remaining. As soon as she felt she had gone far enough she gave my ear another good shake and let go. Man, she's trembling with anger here. She then latches onto me crying and calling me a baka. My brain hurts…..
Having her this close clinging to me is really messing up my higher brain functions I try to gently get her to disengage me but she was like a barnacle! Finally I give up and hold her. It felt…nice. Well, may as well find out what I did.
"Uhm, what did I do?" Yeah, James Bond eat your heart out here!
"I told you" she mutters into my chest. I certainly don't remember he telling me anything about raising the dead….
"Told me what?" She sniffs and looks at me. I can get lost in those eyes. I think I am lost in those eyes. Hey, she said something. OK, how am I going to get her to repeat it without looking dumb?
"Huh?" I mutter. Yea, Bond, James Bond I am…NOT
"I told you when we first ran into Kohaku and you healed him not to do stuff like that without telling me first!" OK, she's upset that I raised the dead and didn't warn her first. I wonder if Jesus had these problems…
"OK, before I heal or raise any dead, I'll check with you first." I said a bit unsurely. She is driving me crazy! God her smell…
She just giggled in my chest. And looked back into my face. "Is there anything else you are hiding?" I really want to tell her. I REALLY REALLY DO! But I know she'd never believe me. Even after all we've been through its still too unbelievable.
"Some things are better left discovered". Damn it, that's suck a PICK UP line. I do not want Kikyo I do not want Kikyo, I….she's snuggling back into my arms….mmmmm….nice… no, No, NO! Inuyasha, Inuyasha's face in betrayal, BAD!
I struggle to speak. "Come on Kikyo, the others are waiting." She sighed and let go. Sorry Kikyo. I just can't do that to my brother….I just can't….
I think this is a good enough place to end it. I got two whole reviews and they were actually positive, go me! I'll put their names up next chapter since I am too lazy to go to my email account lol. Anyway I am thinking of a few more adventures before the battle with Naraku to set up my……SECOND STORY ARC! I better be able to finish this one before I start thinking of another one. See you guys next chappy!