"Demonic energy has a rather particular feel to it, the softer the flow the more benevolent the demon is. The harsher the flow the more malicious and cruel it is. Where as Spiritual energy often feels cool and comforting, Demonic energy is a rush of heat. If you can identify these essences, and I imagine you will what with your body containing both powers, you will be able to sense virtually any demon or spiritual being." Gin's wise words left Brian smiling at his master.
"I will try. I do believe I can already sense spiritual powers on some level, exposure to your powers has done as much if nothing else." Closing his eyes to focus, Brian extended his senses. Having already learned to draw on his spiritual power and Chi, it was an easy thing to find that part of his essence that contained sensitivity to auras. It was the same part that sensed his own powers enough to use them. Pushing on that part of himself, he managed to feel as if his mind was expanding, detaching from his skull and moving outwards.
Immediately he felt the incredible cool energy inside of his master, the rush of weak Chi in his body. Then he felt the demonic scurge in his own tissues, his own weak spiritual powers and Chi that surpassed his dying master. As his energy rippled outward like a bat's echolocation, he sensed the powerful auras of Momiji and Botan, light spotlights in a dark cave they stood out.
"Incredible... though you lack spiritual strength you seem to have a sensitivity to auras that surpasses even my own at your age." The sheer pride in Gin's voice distracted Brian enough that his attention shattered and he was back in his body, looking at his ancient master. "We must work on your focus, you should be able to do this without focusing, at least on some level. All spiritually skilled beings can do this, as can many demons and those with proper training. It is my goal that you at least master this so that even without great power you can have a skill that will keep you alive. Now... back to meditation, only this time you will work on identifying small creatures that live in the earth and trees around us. Using your power to locate even the smallest of creatures will greatly strengthen your ability to focus without becoming distracted by anything else."
Groaning a little, Brian did as he was bidden and started to meditate once more...
It was such a drag, no matter how useful it turned out to be.
"What are you doing?"
Kagome's voice shattered the memories flooding Brian's mind, making him open one eye. "I thought you and Inuyasha had left?" Somehow he kept the resentment out of his mouth, the irritation he felt towards the girl who refused his offer.
She blushed a little, looking towards Jinenji who was working in the fields with his mother just to his left. "We decided to find the real flesh eating demon, or well Inuyasha did. I am here to keep an eye on Jinenji to keep him safe from the villagers."
Irritation spiked within him at the mention of the villagers, he rarely hated anyone but those monsters really irked him. "I will help you with that then. I rather like these two." From his place on top of the hut, he leaped down comfortably, happy that his training had turned his chubby and round body into a powerful weapon that could handle something like jumping off of a house. He still had some extra fat but his progress had been immense, he was quite proud of it. "I can put up a barrier to ensure that no one enters this place to attack them."
"That would be smart, the villagers were talking about gathering weapons earlier."
"Damn them... I cannot fault their fear but this is taking it to an extreme. This is why I like the whole Due process thing my country is so fond of spouting. At least we look into a problem instead of casting blame... most of the time anyway." Pulling out several sutras, he closed his eyes and charged them with as much Chi as he could draw in a few moments. They glew a soft silver before he threw them skyward. The spells on them kicked in and they scattered, landing in a periphery around the garden, before a large silver barrier erupted from them. " That will at least warn us if they come by." He masked his tiredness with a smile.
"That's a relief... and you never told me what you were doing on the roof?"
"Meditating, it helps with strengthening your control over your powers and increases focus. I use it to expand my sensory powers, to sense this demon that is attacking this place... pity I was unable to sense it. Where ever it is, it is too far to be sensed from here."
She frowned. " That is a pity..."
"It is... I am going to help them with the garden if you don't mind." Unable to talk to her without screaming, he hurried over to Jinenji and started plucking the weeds as he saw them. He offered the handsome guy a smile. " Just the weeds, right?"
"Yes..." And with that Jinenji scooted over, looking uncomfortable and embarrassed.
"You really have a green thumb, the quality of your herbs is incredible."
The halfbreed flushed. " What is a green thumb?"
"Sorry that is an expression from where I come from. It means you have a talent for growing things, really is it quite incredible."
Kagome's aura alerted him to her presence before she spoke, ruining the good mood talking to Jinenji seemed to sprout within him. "He's right, these herbs are amazing."
Kagome suddenly let out a scream, and Brian whipped out his staff, ready to unleash some whoopass when he saw the source of her fear.
"You don't scream at demons but an earth worm gets you? Really?" Annoyed, he grabbed the worm and tossed it away. "Their great for gardens, they replenish nutrients in the soil and make it richer. They are actually harmless."
Kagome just gave him an annoyed glance. " I can't help it they freak me out."
He just rolled his eyes and turned to Jinenji, winking at him lightly. The massive guy just flushed some more and turned away, only this time there was a small smile on his adorable face.
Kagome, finally turned to Jinenji after a little while and asked. "Say, didn't you ever think about leaving here?" Brian listened, curious as to why he would stay where he was loathed so much.
The Half demon, sighed. "This place is best…My pa left us this farm."
"I see."
"Then take the herbs and leave." Jinenji turned to him, shocked. " Take the herbs and go to Kaede's village. She would welcome your herbs and your help and protection. I can sense your powers and your skills, you would be welcomed there and they wouldn't judge you. Maybe a little at first but not too much. Kaede told me that Kagome regularly brings two full demons and Inuyasha there and no one minds. I think you and your mom would be very happy there, she doesn't have a lot of years left and some peace would be good for her I think... and you, Jinenji who knows If you inherited the long life of a demon. You might have only a few decades left. Might as well make them happy and be around those who like, respect and appreciate you. I do and I am thinking of making Kaede's village my base of operations as I try to heal myself. It would be nice to have a friend like you around.
Besides, if you move there you will never have to be a victim again, you could be happy... you deserve that as does your mother. If you stay here even if you get along with the villagers, they are cowards who don't think. They will make you victims the next time something happens or expect you to protect them despite their abuse. They are users and abusers and they do not deserve your love, compassion or powers. So.. just think about it okay?"
And he meant it. Jinenji seemed the type to forgive and forget, which would only invite more pain.
Jinenji flushed a deep red, before a beautiful smile crossed his face. " I... I will consider it."
And that was enough for Brian.
Hours passed by as they worked on the garden, plucking weeds and just being simply content to help the kind people that gave them their herbs. Brian felt oddly at peace at this garden, comfortable to do honest work and see the results. It was clear why Jinenji loved this place so much, it made it easier to see why he didn't leave...
Eventually they stopped weeding the garden and started to feed the birds. They birds swarmed them and soon they even landed on them all, making them all smile. At one point Kagome held out her hand, where a bird had landed.
"Look!"
Jinenji nodded with a face filled with subtle joy, and it made his beautiful blue eyes radiate beautifully. It was hard not to get sucked into them, to relish in their simplicity and beauty.
As night began to fall, Brian had one thought in his heart. 'May this fun day be something you get to experience more often Jinenji, for you deserve the happiness that has been so denied to you... my sweet friend.'
"""'
Brian's sleep was shattered as someone filled with hatred walked through his barrier. He stood up at once, grabbing his staff and readied himself for combat. He had never actually fought outside of a spar, he hoped this wouldn't be impossible for him to do.
"Come on out, Jinenji! We know you're the one who killed our people!" The scream of a villager shattered the peaceful night entirely, and Brian knew who walked through his barrier. He could feel dozens do the same and he knew they were in deep trouble.
Jinenji in fear, just closed his eyes and trembled.
His mother, without fear, just woke right up and grabbed the nearest object, a gardening hoe and marched outside with Brian at her side.
"You rotten half-demon!"
"Why you!" The Crone said raising her hoe, just in time for a villager to throw a rock. Brian deflected it with his staff, eyes filling with malice. He started to focus immediately, drawing on as much Chi as he could. He hated the people and if he was to fight them he would need his full strength.
"You ingrate"
"After we let you live near our village!"
Kagome rushed out this time, and like Brian she stood in front of the old women "Stop!" She said, her voice filled with powerful command.
" Move, girl!"
"Why try to protect them?!"
Kagome radiated power as she spoke. "Jinenji can't kill anyone! If you stayed with him, you'd see that immediately! Jinenji is a kind and gentle person!"
" Never mind! Kill the girl too!"
Chi exploded like silver fire around his body and he raised his staff, slamming it down allowing the barrier within to expand, knocking down the idiots and protecting the place just as someone tossed a torch their way. " If you touch this place or these people I will kill you. He is innocent you have not an ounce of proof he has hurt anyone. Begone before I get really pissed."
A villager threw more rocks at him but they all bounced off of the barrier he cast, reflecting back onto them.
He would have done more, said more, thought more, but just as he started to raise his staff to cast as spell he saw it, silhouette appearing behind the mob and growling loudly. Within seconds it came close enough to see, and he realized what it was. It looked like a centipede demon with A brood of small demons gathered around it's feet.
In a flash it grabbed someone, bringing them forward.
"Tago's been seized by a giant demon!" Someone said, screaming loudly.
The Villagers started to run away leaving this Tago behind. The small demons starting eating the unconscious Tago. One of the villagers gasped loudly in horror.
"The larvae are eating Tago!"
"They're gonna eat us!"
The crone, perhaps a little to smugly, called out. "You see?! They're the one who ate the villagers!"
The larvae finished with Tago and started to crawl towards the other running villagers.
Kagome rushed back into the house, probably searching for her bow and arrows. Brian had other plans, and immediately he started to recite a poem from one of the spells he remembered.
"Oh night gather, like mist and dew. As one we fight the world anew. Through wind and gale we search the skies, and blind our enemies through will less eyes! Sliver night!" Silver energy explode, wrapping around him body before blasting outwards, exploding around the demons, blinding them and clouding over their eyes with the silver energy.
The thing thrashed and screamed, whipping it's tail about, slamming into the barrier painfully causing it to shudder. Brian knew the barrier could only take so many hits and so he grabbed onto his staff, channeling the remainder of his chi into it. The barrier glew brighter as he poured power into it, healing the cracks that appeared. But only for so long as the beast slammed it's tail into the barrier again and again, causing more and more cracks to appear.
He felt exhausted as the barrier waned in strength, the creature was physically strong and the barrier was too stretched out to be maintained for much longer.
That was when Kagome appeared, wielding her bow. In a single shot, she blasted the monster taking off a chunk of it's neck!
'What spiritual power, even Gin couldn't do that. What a beast!'
The beast wasn't finished though and slammed it's tail against the barrier once more, cracking it even further.
"Kagome, back up the barrier is going to shatter... Jinenji, help us." The massive man had snuck back outside, and even though he was shivering he radiated powerful comparable to Inuyasha's.
"Stop!" His eyes glowed a deep red before he rushed through the barrier and punched the beast right through the mouth.
The Beast screeched before one of it's limbs wrapped around Jinenji's neck.
"Jinenji!" The crone called out, pride and fear warring in her voice.
Jinenji, struggling, called out. " Hurry and get away! You two were the only ones…who treated me like a human! If I let you die here, I won't be able to live with myself!"
"Jinenji!" Kagome called out, her heart breaking from the sound of her voice.
"Fight it!" Brian called, feeling his Chi draining as the barrier became too hard to maintain. "Your stronger then it, kill it and be done with it. You need to protect us all, protect yourself so fight!"
"Iron-Reaver, Soul-Stealer!" A surge of potent demonic energy drew his attention to Inuyasha, who was with the villagers. "Kagome! Where are you!"
Kagome, from her spot near Brian, called out. " Inuyasha! Save Jinenji!"
The dog demon sprinted towards them on the outside of the fading barrier when The Crone called out. "Don't help him! Don't interfere! Brian is right, Jinenji must fight alone!"
"Why?!"
He couldn't see him, having turned back to Jinenji but he heard Inuyasha's voice. "Jinenji! Show 'em just strong you are!"
A blue aura emits around Jinenji, a potent demonic presence and he gathered his strength and breaks out of the demon's grip on his neck. He squeezes the demon with both hands tightly. His squeeze, filled with demonic power, got tighter and tighter until finally the demon exploded. Its head flew up into the air and fell again. Jinenji punches it with a final dashing blow. The blue aura around him ceases.
Kagome gasped. "Amazing!"
"Incredible power..." Brian turned to the villagers. " Your lucky he is so kind, he is powerful enough to have wiped you all out a long time ago. I would have if I were him."
Jinenji finally caught his breath and trudges towards the villagers. They fall to their knees and staring kowtowing in terror.
"We're sorry we suspected you! Please don't kill us!"
Inuyasha chuckled a little. " Well, now the villagers should behave…"
Kagome chided him. "Say! Everyone's shaking in fear!"
"Good for them! No way are they gonna be friends. So it's better to make it clear who's stronger."
"But…!"
Jinenji trudged towards them with a clenched fist. He points his fist at them.
"Sorry! We'll never torment you again! Forgive us!"
"I am leaving this village." Jinenji said, his voice all but a growl. " Before I would have healed your wounds... but I have learned that that will only invite you to harm me and my mother more... I choose to be more then a victim." He turned to Brian. " Where is this Kaede's village?"
And Brian felt wonderful, looking into those beautiful blue eyes, he felt that maybe there was more to his future then just healing himself... maybe there was a lot more he could do.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was so much fun to write, I loved it and I love Brian and Jinenji both! Not a lot of small changes but a lot of big ones...
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.