Disclaimer: I make no money from this story and own none of the Inuyasha characters. Nor do I own the fandom. I only own my little plot line. Oniyorizaazuma and Misora belong to Xx-Filipino-Fury-Xx.
XOXOXO:
Chapter Nineteen:
XOXOXO:
As Misora stared at Bankotsu a wealth of mixed emotions assailed her on the inside. Shock. Relief. Hurt. Anger. On the outside she stood stoic, emotionless.
She'd spent her younger years convinced he'd come to rescue her. Young as she'd been, she knew in her heart he wouldn't stop until he rescued her.
The next few years were spent grieving for him, because she knew he had to be dead, or else he'd have come for her. The thought of him no longer in the world had led her to fall into a deep depression.
Over the last four years she'd learned the hard way to not to show her emotions. No matter how many times Hogosha hurt her, she wouldn't scream anymore.
Not since the night she'd figured out that he enjoyed her screams of pain. She'd refused to allow him the satisfaction of her seeing her pain.
She'd always felt guilty for never returning his feelings. Despite being taken captive as a young child she'd tried to respect him, but couldn't. She'd been an obedient wife. Tried to be everything he expected of her.
"Your move, kid." Oni taunted, bringing her back to the situation at hand.
"No," she said flatly, ducking beneath Banryu to move between the combatants. She walked over to Bankotsu and shoved him back enough that the blade lifted off Oni's neck.
"Leave him alone." She glared at Bankotsu, then spun her back to him. Dismissing him.
Bankotsu grabbed her arm, scowl darkening as he noticed the bruises. His eyes flared with fury.
"You sonova bitch, I'll kill you!"
"No you won't." Misora argued, and shoved him with ten years worth of bottled up frustration and anger behind the move.
"Misa-"
"Don't call me that." She punched Bankotsu in the jaw. "I gave up on you showing up a long time ago." She shook out her fist and turned away so no one would see the tears clouding her vision. She blinked them away and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"Misora!" Bankotsu snagged her by the elbow and spun her around. "Don't you ever-"
He blinked and his fingers grasped the empty air.
"Whoever the hell you are, don't fucking touch her again." Oni growled and pushed her protectively behind him. "She's with me." He allowed his aura to flare.
Misora blinked, shocked that Oni hadn't hesitated to protect her. Then moved to stand between them.
"Neither of you two hot-heads are doing shit to the other." She glared at Bankotsu. "This man just saved me, and spared my life. Not that you care."
She huffed and turned around to poke Oni's chest, right over the scar above his nipple.
"You, stop barking orders. I'm not a damned toy to fight over." She'd had enough of being treated like a piece of property by her dead husband. She wouldn't have these two coming to blows.
Oni blinked in shock at how the little mouse had suddenly gained a backbone. Whoever the kid was, he sure made her mad. She was brave talking to him like that. Stupid, but brave.
She rounded on Bankotsu, and Oni's shock turned to amusement as she unleashed her temper on the mercenary, as if he couldn't kill her with as simple flick of his wrist.
"You have no idea what I've been through, so don't you dare stand there and judge me." Angry flames licked her eyes, causing them to sparkle with an inner glow.
"Of course I care, Misa." Bankotsu moved towards her, but she backed away from him.
Oni's smirk widened.
"You have a funny way of showing it." She glared at him. "Why did it take you ten fucking years to finally show up?" she demanded, shocking Oni with her blunt language.
He'd thought her a mousey woman when he'd approached her after slaying the shogun.
"Ban, who is this woman?" Kagome asked, staring at the Misora.
"My sister," he deadpanned, then returned his full attention to Misora. "I searched for you." His free hand balled into a fist at his side. "Not a day went by that I didn't try to find you."
Dismissing her brother, she turned to address Oni.
"Words cannot express what you've done for me."
"Glad to be of service." He grabbed her hips. He dipped his head so he could inhale the scent of her hair. it reminded him of a fresh spring shower.
"You smell nice." He took a lock of her hair between his fingers and let it glide against his skin.
"Um, thank you." Blushing Misora removed his hands, then turned to stare at the place that had been her home for many years.
She was glad to see it gone. The memories of all the horrors she'd experienced there would never fade, but at least she no longer had to see that vile palace anymore.
At long last she had her freedom. She turned to walk away, but was stopped as Oni grabbed her hand.
"Where will you go?" He asked, genuine curiosity in his eyes.
"I don't know yet," she sighed. She'd never given much thought to the matter.
"She'll travel with us," Bankotsu announced, with a note of finality in his voice.
"Why would I want to travel with the person who left me in that horrible place?" She stared at her brother. Did he really expect her to just forget the past ten years and act like nothing ever happened? If so, he could think again.
"We're family," he replied, as if that were obvious.
"Family?" She blinked. "I don't even know what that word means anymore. I thought I did once… Now, I'm not so sure." She turned away from him.
"Don't act like such a bitch." Kagome frowned.
Misora turned around and punched Kagome so fast, she never saw it coming. "Stay out of shit that doesn't concern you, priestess," she warned.
"That's enough." Bankotsu got between Misora and Kagome. "You will not touch her again. Sister or not."
"I don't give a rat's ass what you think. Not anymore." Misora looked away from him. He'd left her to rot in that hellhole. Why should she think he cared now?
"Well, isn't this interesting." Oni spoke up, reminding them he was there, as he moved over to pull Misora to him, and than stared at Bankotsu.
"Brother or not, if you so much as glare at her, I'll rearrange that pretty boy face." His hand closed gently around Misora's, in an unusual gesture of comfort.
"She's been through enough shit without you adding to the pile."
"Misora isn't your concern, pal." Bankotsu glared at him.
"She is now," Oni assured. "I won't let anyone hurt her again. Especially her so called family."
"Misora," Sango walked over to her. "I have a salve that will help heal those bruises." She removed her shoulder pad and pulled out her salve.
Misora stared at her unsure what to think. She hadn't known much kindness even as a child.
The way Oni automatically angled his body to keep an eye on her brother, and her at the same time brought her a little comfort.
She nodded to Sango, and then winced as the cool cream covered her tender skin.
"Perhaps the lady should join us," Miroku spoke up.
"You just want to grab her ass," Shippo chided, as he rolled her his.
Oni's eyes narrowed at the monk.
"You touch her and I'll castrate ya. Capiche?"
Miroku paled and nodded.
Misora sighed. Really, did all men have to act like cave men? She thanked Sango and then walked over to Oni.
"I appreciate your concern, but I don't need-"
"You need protected. And since I slayed the bastard who harmed you, that makes you my responsibility."
"Like hell it does." Bankotsu snorted. "She's my sister."
"Which you abandoned."
"Why you-"
"Enough!" Misora bellowed. "Both of you can just shut the fuck up already." She seethed. "I will not stand here and be fought over. I'm not a stupid piece of property. I'm a person and people damned well better start realizing that."
"What did they do to you?" Bankotsu stared at the woman before him. The star tattoo and her eyes were unique, so there was no doubt she was his Misa, but her behavior…
She refused to answer his question, covering her face with her hands instead. The horrors she'd endured were hers alone to know of.
She fell to her knees hugging her waist and allowed her tears to fall freely.
Sango knelt beside her and wrapped her arms around her, as did Kagome.
At first Misora stiffened, but when they whispered about how it wasn't her fault, she gave in and cried. The emotions she'd fought to bury, erupted like a volcano, only instead of lava it was tears.
Bankotsu and Oni both stared on unsure how to comfort her.
Miroku stepped forward and addressed them.
"Perhaps we should get a second room for the night?"
"Maybe," Bankotsu said, staring helplessly at his sitter.
"I won't leave her," Oni informed them, matter-of-factly.
For some reason he felt the need to ensure Misora's protection. Maybe because he'd killed her husband? Though now that he knew what the man had done, he was double glad he had.
She deserved better than what she'd gotten. He didn't have to know her past to guess what had happened.
"I won't let her go off alone with a man I don't know," Bankotsu replied, just as serious.
"Fair enough," Oni agreed. Mentally scoffing about how the kid wouldn't be able to stop him if he did chose to take her and leave.
"That settles it then." Miroku smiled, glad they'd reached a peaceful solution.
The women rose to their feet. Misora wiped her cheeks and tried to recompose herself.
"I'm fine now," she assured, using her sleeve to wiped her eyes. "Sorry about that. I guess after everything… it just exploded."
"Don't worry about it." Kagome smiled. You've got a mean left hook."
"Thanks." Misora cracked a small smile.
"Now that we're all friends," Miroku started.
"Is that what we are?" Misora walked over to Oni and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, again."
Oni grinned. "Anytime." He reached over and brushed his lips against her cheek, then used his thumb to wipe away her last remnants of tears.
Bankotsu scowled.
Kagome walked over to him, to keep him from confronting hi sister and Oni.
"Relax, Ban." She assured. "Your sister will be fine."
Misora stared at Miroku and noticed his eyes glued to her chest.
"Are you sure he's a monk?" She unconsciously scooted closer to Oni and grabbed his arm.
He wrapped his free arm around her and pulled her against his side, then glared at Miroku.
Bankotsu shot the monk a withering scowl.
Miroku "eeped" and hid behind Sango, who rolled her eyes.
"You're safe with us, Misa," Bankotsu assured, not too happy about how the stranger kept touching his sister.
"I'm never safe," Misora sighed, and shifted her weight to one foot.
"You are now," Oni informed her.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you," Kagome said. "but I'm hungry."
Misora looked at Oni a minute, then pulled away and held her nose.
"You need a bath." She said, causing the group to burst into laughter.
Oni looked down at his body, ran his free hand through his hair and smirked.
"Maybe," he chuckled, as he shouldered Kon Ranshi.
"No maybe about it." She pointed to the blood drying on him. Hair, armor, chest. "It stinks, and so do you."
"Won't take long," he promised, with a wink.
Misora nodded.
"Stay away from her." He scowled at Miroku, and then strolled off towards the nearest source of clean water, intending to kill a nearby animal for a quick snack along the way, then bathe and wash his stuff.
"Let's leave the guys to bathe, while we go eat." Kagome suggested. She and Sango each linked their arms with Misora's and led her inside the inn before she could protest.
Misora stared at Kagome wondering how she could be so friendly after their earlier incident.
The women she'd known were cruel to one another. Always trying to one up the others. A punch usually lead to more punches, similar to the the way she'd grown up on the streets.
She forced the unwanted memories away as the three women entered a room, with a wide variety or rice and fish dishes. Having worked at and lived in the shogun's palace for the past ten years, she'd grown used to such a bountiful feast.
The women sat down. Sango and Kagome started eating.
"Want some?" Kagome asked, holding out a bowl.
"No thanks," Misora answered, mind running through her options. Stay with her brother who would never let her leave, or go with Oni. A man she didn't know. Something inside her told her he that even if she took off alone, he'd follow her.
She was glad he'd freed her from an abusive marriage, but wasn't sure what to think of him. He had looks, power, and was already protective of her.
He was pretty physical judging by his hands on displays earlier. Was it to warn the monk away, or was he always that physical?
Oni walked into the room, chest bare, with water dripping from his freshly washed hair. He strolled over to Misora and sat beside her, and rested Kon Ranshi in his lap. He draped an arm around her shoulder.
"Miss me?" He brushed his lips against hers.
She blushed and pulled away, unsure how to react. Her husband hadn't been affectionate. Possessive, but not affectionate.
"I'll take that as a yes." He grinned.
"Give it a rest already," Bankotsu grouched, as he entered the room and sat next to Kagome, Banryu resting on his lap. His eyes never left the man by his sister.
The room hummed with thick tension as Oni's gaze met and held Bankotsu's as they glared at each other.
XOXOXO:
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it everyone. Remember reviews are any author's best motivation.
P.S. Filipino-Fury-Xx, hope I'm doing a good job keeping Oni in character? :)