An Unexpected Love Story

Chapter 21: Look-alike

Midori was walking down the woods, going to InuYasha's place to teach Shippo a new trick that she learned. Ever since they discovered where each other lives, they've been meeting more often, much like a real close-knit family. On her way, she caught the scent of a human nearby. An almost-dead human.

She ran to the place where the scent seemed stronger and stopped when she saw a dying man with two arrows shot into his back. She immediately snatched some wood and used her fox fire to make it warmer.

The man made a coughing sound. But Midori couldn't help the man all by herself.

She ran quickly back to the palace.

...

"So, I'm supposed to help this guy over here?" Kagura asked. When Midori arrived at the palace, she dragged Kagura to the place.

"I can't just leave him at this place. Something bad could have happened to him."

"Why didn't you take him to the palace or to your cousin instead?"

"Shippo's place is too far from here and I heard that Lord Sesshomaru despised humans. I cannot drag him all the way to my cousin's place. Since you can fly, maybe you could take him there? Please?"

"Hmm... Alright. Anything for you."

Kagura carried the man on her feather and Midori rode on Kagura's other feather.

Meanwhile, inside Sango and Miroku's house, their children (Tomiko, Yumiko, and Kichiro) were playing a drawing game where the others have to guess what the other is trying to draw.

"Let me guess," Yumiko said, "you're trying to draw Miss Kagura's eyes!"

"Wrong," Kichiro said.

"Kirara's eyes?" Tomiko said.

"Wrong."

"A red-eyed version of Sir InuYasha?"

"Ooh... So close, but wrong."

"It's the blood from that demon that Mom killed!"

"No..."

The twins looked at each other then said in unison, "We give up!"

"Okay," Kichiro said as he finished the drawing. "It's Sir InuYasha himself!"

"Huh?" the twins asked in confusion. "But it looks like a pretty flower!"

"No, it's InuYasha!"

"Flower!"

"InuYasha!"

"Flower!"

"Hey, what's all the fuss about?" Sango said as she entered the room. She carried Kirara in her arms and Kohaku followed after her.

"Kirara! Uncle Kohaku!" the children said in unison.

"Hey, guys," Kohaku said in a much matured voice. Eight years have already passed so he's about nineteen years old now but still single. Everyone knows that he likes Rin but he was never brave enough to tell her the truth.

"What are you doing here, Uncle Kohaku?" Yumiko asked.

"Kohaku and Kirara are gonna stay with us this winter," Sango answered. Miroku then came into the room, carrying lots of firewood over his shoulders.

"Sango," he said.

"Yes?"

"Where's Kohaku gonna sleep?"

Sango was totally speechless. Their entire house was only made of one room which serves as their living, dining, kitchen, and bed rooms. Where was Kohaku gonna sleep?

'Don't worry," Miroku said. "He can stay at Kagome's place. Both of them are with Kaede and Rin at the southernmost tip of the country anyway. If it's alright with you though."

"It's alright with me, but would it be alright for Kagome and InuYasha?" Kohaku asked.

"No need to worry. I'm sure Kagome won't mind. If InuYasha ever gets angry about it, we'll have Kagome to help us."

Everyone but Kichiro laughed. He was just five years old. He still couldn't understand why Kagome sits InuYasha all the time.

"Hey, anyone home?" Kagura said as she entered the house. Midori was behind her with the bloody man.

"Kagura!" Sango said as she approached the man. "What happened?"

"Midori found him wounded in the woods," Shippo said.

"Yeah. But Kagome and Kaede aren't here to help him. Maybe you could cure this guy for us?" Kagura asked.

"Yeah, sure."

Miroku whispered into Sango's ear, "Are we gonna get paid for this?"

"Miroku..."

"Just kidding. After all, Kagura and Midori are our friends!"

They dragged the man into Kaede's hut (Kagome's was occupied by Kohaku). Sango learned a few things from Kagome so taking care of wounds won't be a problem. It is complex illnesses that she can't cure; like amnesia, influenza, pneumonia, cancer, etc.

Sango had to leave to look after her children while Shippo and Midori had another one of their daily fox lessons. Kagura was left alone in the room to look after the man.

"Darn it," she said to herself. "Why do I have to look after this dead guy?"

The man suddenly woke up.

He cleared his eyesight and looked at Kagura. He was surprised.

"Asami? Is that you?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"Asami... You're alive. I didn't think that we'd be together once again." He touched Kagura's cheek with his hand.

"Look, buddy. I have—"

"But, look, your eyes... And your ears... You have turned into a demon!"

"Listen, I'm not that 'Asami' person that you think. My name is Kagura. You must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Oh... Have I? I'm sorry about that."

He tried to stand up, and then his body suddenly hurt.

"Whoa, you can't leave just yet. You're wounded."

"Huh?"

"It's a good thing that my friend Midori found you. If it weren't for her, you would have been dead meat by now."

"Is that so?" He lied down, and sadness spread on his eyes.

Suddenly, someone came inside the hut. It was Sesshomaru.

My name is Sesshomaru. Since I am a dog demon, my sense of smell is quite strong. Very strong, to be exact. By my ability, I am able to track down somebody's scent or distinguish one scent from another with such ease.

This morning, Kagura suddenly disappeared. She does not usually disappear for an entire day. If she ever does so, I am always with her.

As I tried to locate Kagura's scent, I smelled another one. It was located very close to her, extremely close to her. It was the scent of a man.

I flew as fast as I could. Soon, I had realized that I was headed towards Kaede and Rin's hut. I immediately came inside. There I saw Kagura. With a man.

"Who are you?" I demanded.

The devious mole sat up and cleared his throat.

"My name is Tamotsu. I am a warrior from the village not very far from this one."

"I am not asking for your name and personal information. What I want to know is what relationship do you have with Kagura?"

"Relationship? Oh, no, sir. We have no relationship. She just looks like... Asami..."

It was useless talking to this man. He kept giving me useless information. Besides, he was a human. And I despise humans. (Author: Except Rin and he's also getting to like Kohaku as time passes by.)

"Kagura, let's go," I said.

"But we can't just leave him here. I promised Midori—"

I gave her a cold stare. She always follows my orders whenever I give a cold stare.

"Okay."

We left the place.

I do not know why, but I sense that this human will be trouble for me. And whoever this 'Asami' is, he thinks that Kagura looks like her.

If ever that he does something unpleasant to Kagura, I'm going to tear his flesh into pieces, resurrect him, and then torture him for the rest of eternity. That's the punishment that anyone gets when they touch Kagura. My Kagura.

I cannot believe that I actually said that aloud...