Update (October 2020): Chapter edited and lengthened!
Chapter 33: How to Kill a Word
A few days have passed since the confrontation within Naraku's castle, and though weaknesses were revealed, the fiend was able to escape while also making his locale vanish. Worse still, the young wayward Kohaku had been swept away with the tide of poison, leaving his sister behind to come to terms with her grief and finally opening up to her companions...
Currently, Sango is resting under her kumon on a straw futon as she waits for her injuries to heal, her twin-tail cat partner curled up by her head. The latter is still feeling the blunt end of the miasma they were forced to inhale, letting out a few pained whimpers here and there.
"Kilala, does it still hurt?"
A weak mewl answers the brunette's question.
"Naraku's poison is still in your system..."
Meanwhile, outside the wilderness hut our group chose to stop at, Inuyasha, Coraline and Shippō speak with Myōga the Flea - he having returned from whatever business he was previously engaged in - on a grassy bank, learning that there is hope for Kilala to recover...
"An 'erbal antidote?"
Nodding at the human redhead, the tiny demon explains,
"Mm, I have heard rumors of an herb garden not far from here. Unfortunately for us, there's also a rumor about, a demon."
The young fox demon isn't discouraged.
"Then that's a perfect job for Inuyasha. After he beats up the demon, we can take whatever we need."
Said silverette smirks a bit in agreement.
"Keh, well if it helps Kilala, I'll be happy to do it. After all, she actually helps in battle, unlike Myōga."
The flea demon emits an appalled noise, and Shippō adds similarly,
"We can actually count on Kilala, unlike some people. Without her strength, we could be in serious trouble."
Both boys nod, while Myōga sputters incoherently. Coraline smiles exasperatedly at the boys before deciding to try and defend the older demon.
"Hey, come on, don' belittle Myōga so quickly, y' guys. Sure, he isn't much help in terms of physical confrontation, but he is a reliable source o' knowledge. (Murmur) Well, random information, at least."
The flea demon's irritation reaches its limits, boiling over in the following shout.
"Okay, okay, enough with the feint praise! What's a flea to do to catch a break around here?! Coraline can't be the only one who knows about brains before brawn, come on!"
The three younger bodies watch Myōga's 'hopping-mad' form blankly...Moving on, Inuyasha and Coraline would soon leave to find the herbs for Kilala, while Miroku and Shippō stay behind with Sango and Kilala...
"So they went to find the medicine, did they? Inuyasha and the others?"
The monk nods at the resting slayer.
"Yes, they did, and I shall stay here to protect and look after you, (gentle smile) so no more talking and try to get some rest."
...Sango blinks blankly at Miroku...
"Is something wrong?"
Tugging her kimono closer to herself, the young woman murmurs in suspicion,
"It might be safer outside..."
Shippō then chimes in from her other side,
"And that's why Coraline sent me, so that I can protect you from being protected by him."
Myōga adds near the boy's left,
"What he said," causing Miroku to sigh with an exasperated smile at their lack of faith in him to be professional...
Ahem, again, moving on, we jump ahead down the path away from the wilderness hut to catch up with the half-demon and Aura Reader duo as they pass a small incline of flowers. Zooming in on the redhead, we see that her outfit of the day consists of a white cropped tank top, a red jean jacket, acid-wash jeans and her black combat boots...
As the two kept jogging down the stretch, Inuyasha says to Coraline in a somewhat bored tone,
"It be faster if I went by myself," causing her to smirk a bit and counter,
"Oh yeah? Let's assume y' did: how would you be able t' tell the good herbs from the bad? Out'a the two of us, I'm the one who pays attention to Kaede's teachings."
"Hauh, yeah, okay, whatever...You sure about joggin' all the way, though?"
"Why not? Plus, I think it'll be good for th' two of us to spend some time together, alone..."
Coraline focuses up front and smiles as she thinks aloud about how far she and her friend have come thus far.
"It's funny: back in the beginnin' of this quest, it was jus' the two of us...Bu' now, we've made friends with some wonderful people..."
She stops by a tree and adds,
"The const'nt demon battles can easily steal your energy, y'know? It's good t' know we have strong friends who will gladly have our backs...Hm?"
Not hearing a response, Coraline then turns her head downward...and sees Inuyasha slumped against the trunk fast asleep!
"Uh...He's sleeping."
She sits down beside him, and looks at the young man's face, noting the peaceful expression mixed with the fatigue.
"...Gee, he mus' be more exhausted than I thought."
Which isn' all too surprising. Tha' last battle we had with Naraku an' his forces was a little tough...
The blue-eyed redhead smiles gently at the sleepy half-demon, and leans against the tree while whispering to herself,
"I'll just wait 'til he stirs awake again. Wouldn' kill us to take a small break..."
She then reaches into her army surplus backpack, tugging out a notebook or two to do some schoolwork while her companion slept on...
But while these two were able to catch a moment of peace, one poor soul was in dire peril.
"Hh, hh, hh...Ah!"
A young woman dressed in a blue kimono and green headscarf is seen being chased down a path in the higher forest by an unknown entity with red eyes, just barely keeping her basket of herbs on her back...
She trips and falls to the ground...giving her pursuer the headway they needed.
"AAAH!"
(SLASH)
...Only the herb basket remains, while their carrier's fate is left to the imagination.
Small Time Skip, Coraline's POV
After about fifteen, twenty minutes of resting, Inuyasha would wake up and we'd be on our way again. For some reason, he didn't seem pleased that I let him sleep for that long, even after I tried to reason the logic in taking that break...
"I don't understand wha' the problem is, Inuyasha. You were tired, so I thought it'd benefit you to rest a while. It's not like we were d'ere for an hour, right?"
"Keh, maybe...Still, you should've woke me up sooner."
He mus' really hate bein' caught vulnerable if he's this ticked...
"Hauh, alrigh', how 'bout next time, you tell me how long yeu wanna sleep, and I'll make sure you don't go any longer than tha'."
"Whatever."
When we reach the top of the next hill, I found myself looking at Inuyasha with intent...
"Now what?"
"Um...Do you, like spendin' time with me?"
"Depends, is that a trick question?"
Trick question?...Does 'e believe I'm hostile or somethin'?
I suddenly felt insecure, and turn away while letting out a small puff of air.
"N-Never mind. I dunno, why I even asked that..."
I walk ahead, causing Inuyasha to call a bit irritably,
"Excuse me! Did I miss something?"
I smile sadly, realizing he doesn't understand what I'm feeling right now.
Which is fair. Even with all I've told 'im so far regardin' my life, I'm still closin' myself off...
(Frowns sadly) Maybe...Maybe I am hostile...
Inuyasha's POV
"N-Never mind. I dunno, why I even asked that..."
I look at Coraline a bit strangely, noticing an odd look spread across her face before she walked away. I try to call after her:
"Excuse me! Did I miss something?"
But she doesn't answer...and I sense a rise of, depression in her being, making me feel both confused and a little worried.
What was that about?...Was she really that put off by my answer?
...Hauh, this is why I don't get girls: they've got too many moods to choose from.
No POV
As Coraline and Inuyasha kept moving along, choosing to stay silent in an awkward manner...they suddenly stop when the redhead does.
"Uh! What, is that?"
"What's what?"
She points to where she's indicating, and both teens watch about five village men carrying a wooden platform with a wicker mat covering something...or rather, someone...
"I'm telling you, it's Jinenji!"
"Of course it is! Who else could it be but that demon?"
"Wh-What can we do?"
"Yeah, what?"
...Inuyasha steps in front of the path, blocking the progression of men while looking at them with a serious expression.
"So, who's this Jinenji? Some kind of demon?"
Two of the men reply respectfully,
"Why should we tell you?"
"Another demon!"
Coraline rushes to her friend's defense.
"True, but he's no' of the malicious variety, I assure you, sir."
The men back away a bit, still wary...
"Come on, please don't be so defensive. The two of us only wish t' find a cert'in medicinal herb that's not too far from here to help anoth'r friend who's sick."
"What herb?"
"You mean Jinenji then."
"Jinenji's the one who done killed this poor woman."
Coraline is baffled by their barely-tethered comments.
"I don't understand. Please explain."
"You'll want Jinenji, a big monster who lives at the edge of the village with his mother."
"Them plants of his sure work enough, but as of late, that is to say..."
"Lately, he's got himself a taste for human flesh, is what it is."
So after leading them to the village and dropping off the apparent dead body (the same woman from before), the men lead Inuyasha and Coraline to the herb garden and home of the demon, Jinenji...They stop behind a few large boulders and some bushes near the treeline to watch him tend to the fields.
"It's him there. Big feller, ain't he?"
Zooming in on said demon, we see that he's indeed rather large (likely about ten feet tall), his body being a well-muscled mesomorph shape and with skin an amber-beige shade. Atop his head is a tousle of black hair tied back into a loose top-knot, the shape of his face bearing a countenance similar to the local deer, and very large azure blue irises. We also notice Jinenji's arms bear several scars, and his patchwork smoke gray/ash blue yukata had some wear and tear thanks to his constant labors...
"Keh, he ain't so big."
"Don't go makin' us no promises you can't keep now."
"I'm doin' it for the herb, not you. (Glance) Coraline, you stay here."
"Alright."
Inuyasha then leaps off to get the jump on Jinenji...
"Do ya reckon he's strong enough?"
"Don' really matter, now do it? Not our problem now."
"If we're lucky, maybe they'll kill eachother."
The young Croft is far from pleased by the comments being made by her fellow man, but chooses to bite back her retorts, knowing that starting an argument wouldn't be good for the main objective.
Hmph, sometimes I wond'r how I was born from such a narrowmind'd species...
Besides.
She turns her gaze towards Jinenji's form, the entirety of her eyes clouding with that familiar ice blue glow.
Such'a gentle soul like his doesn' seem fi' for senseless killing.
Perhaps Inuyasha came to a similar conclusion, his aggression less pronounced as he lands on the field not too far behind the other demon and calls them out on their accused actions.
"What'sa matter? Your mom didn't tell you about not eating people smaller than you?"
Jinenji turns around, confused by the half-dog demon's presence...though not as much as Inuyasha when he sniffs the air, and doesn't find the scent he expected.
That's weird. I don't smell any human blood on him...and he doesn't look like much of a fighter either...
Suddenly, a torrent of rocks come flying their way, most of which bounce harshly against Jinenji's body. He covers himself defensively, while the assailants - they being the five men who led the redhead and silverette to this area - start jeering,
"Go on, get outta here!"
"Monster!"
...Jinenji turns around, his eyes flashing a bit in the direction of the humans.
Inuyasha readies Tessaiga...only to become dumbfounded when the giant starts bawling!
"Waaaah!"
He then retreats to his home, crying out fearfully,
"Aaaah! Maaa!"
"Huh? Hey, wait!"
"Maaa, help!"
Heeding the call, an old woman with weather-beaten ivory skin, shoulder blade-length gray hair tied into a loose ponytail and tucked under a green scarf, and wearing a brown/black kimono with a tan skirt, comes rushing out of the home waving a large log.
"Why yoooou!"
Inuyasha slides to a halt, caught off-guard by her appearance.
A mountain witch!
"Tryin' to take our land for y'rself, are ya?!"
(WHACK)
...But even though she lands a clean against the teenage half-demon's head, the slab of wood didn't do any real damage...In fact, it splits in two, leaving behind a blank expression.
"Uuuuh..."
The small group of men decide to take their leave.
"Well, so much for that plan..."
"Run away!"
Coraline watches them scramble off, muttering,
"Cowards," while Inuyasha mumbles with a frown and a new bump on his head,
"Now I know I missed somethin'..."
The old woman catches her breath from her assault, then says to the young man in front of her,
"I dunno who put you up to this, or what you've been told, but this boy would never eat someone! You got that?! Who he is don't matter, whether half-demon or not!"
A wave of clarity washes over the Aura Reader's face.
Half-demon?...Aah, tha's why his soul has human and demon qualities.
Once the misunderstandings are cleared up, Inuyasha and Coraline would follow the previously cowering Jinenji and his mother inside their home, the hulking half-demon prepping an herbal cure for Kilala...
"Inuyasha, was it? You're half-demon too, but ya don't look it."
"So you can tell, can you?"
"Half-breeds are funny that way: for each one born pretty like you, there's another born but ain't."
Coraline glances at her companion, before nodding in agreement with the lady of the small home.
"I get wha' you mean. (Blush) Compared to oth'r demons I've seen, full o' half, I-Inuyasha is, rather good-looking..."
Said silverette turns to eye the younger woman funny, then smirks the slightest when he sees the new redness in her cheeks.
"...You think I'm good-lookin', do ya?"
All the Croft could do is cover her face in awkwardness, but luckily, the old woman would cut in again by turning focus on her son.
"Just imagine what it's like for him: bein' half-demon shouldn't matter, but, those villagers, they treat 'im like he's some sort of monster, or somethin'."
Jinenji sighs quietly as a form of confirmation, and Coraline frowns sadly, lifting her cooling face to look the older woman in the eye.
"So Jinenji's been subject'd to bullying?"
"Kuh, tryin' to kill 'im, more like."
"I'm sorry, Ma. If I weren't like this, I..."
Jinenji's mother pivots her head to him and gently rebuffs his self-berating demeanor.
"Stop that right now. Don'cha apologize for bein' different. (...Smile) Your father was different, but that never made no mind to me."
(Flash)
She then recalls a darkened night in the mountains, remembering how the area lit up as a set of yellow orbs appear before her...
"I'll never forget how I hurt my ankle, and I couldn't walk. It was your father who saved me. Ooh~, the man I saw, he was glowing..."
The lights cluster together, and manifest as a tall humanoid man with blue-silver hair, eyes the same colour as Jinenji and with a similar but lighter skin tone, and wearing a teal-blue kimono with dark-blue hakama and a light brown hifu. In his hand is a tree staff of sorts...He forms a small smile on his face, wandering over to reach a kind hand towards the injured woman, who could only stare back in awe.
"And I knew he weren't real. No man was that perfect...I loved him. Him, and his demon light."
(Flash)
The old woman blushes fondly at her memories, causing Coraline to quietly giggle while Inuyasha asks,
"Wait, so if that demon was the father, (point) then the human half was you?"
"Wha'did you think I was?"
Rolling her eyes slightly at her companion's slight lack of tact, the redhead thinks to herself,
Well, I knew from th' start she was human...though considering how weath'r'd her skin is, I can see why Inuyasha may be confused.
"...Hm?"
She comes out of her thoughts when Jinenji then holds a small pouch to her.
"Here, for your friend. It's medicine for the friend that you said got poison in them."
"Oh, yes, thank you."
She takes it with a grateful smile, then asks the old woman,
"How much?"
"Nothin'. It's the least I can do to make up for the clubbin' I gave earlier. Now leave, before I grind your bones and make our bread."
Coraline's POV
After receiving the medicine, Inuyasha and I exit the hut and fields, stopping to watch Jinenji and his mother from the tall grass afar...But while my friend may have been fine in starting a path back to our friends after a minute, I was feeling rather apprehensive to leaving.
It's so unfortunate, livin' a life shunned by many and accept'd by few...
And sadly, I can relate to Jinenji's story rather well...
"Hey."
I turn my head to meet with Inuyasha's eyes.
"We should get a move on if we wanna get this stuff to Kilala."
"Um, yes...but..."
"What is it?"
Letting out a breath, I confess while looking down at the medicinal gift that gentle giant gave us,
"I'm just, no' sure about leavin' so soon."
"What? How come?"
"Oh come on, you should know why. These accusations agains' Jinenji are so poor i's almost embarrassing...So what if he's differen'? There's no reason to immediately call 'im guilty of anything, especially since he has too timid a heart to even flip off his torment'rs."
Something seemed to shift in my friend's aura, and I feel a glare on my form as he argues in a stern and stubborn manner,
"You think a bunch of humans are gonna care about what kind of heart he has?"
"Inuyasha..."
"Tch, I thought you of all people would get it by now. This is what it means when you're different."
He starts to walk away from me, but not before adding in his own beliefs,
"Nobody trusts you, you're always the first to be blamed, and it is always, always your fault!"
...I'm soon left alone with my thoughts, my heart going out to the two half-demons.
Inuyasha...he knows how Jinenji feels...and I have fel' their burdens as well.
...We all know how cruel the world and its inhabit'nts are.
No POV
At the same time Coraline's mind wandered into depressing territory, back in the main village, those same men from before had begun gathering assorted weapons - ranging from sharpened bamboo shoots to swords to spears - as they and a few more ready to take matters into their own hands, misguided though they may be.
"Gather every sword and every spear in the village!"
"This is plenty! Even he can't take on all of these."
One old man shakily holds a sword and proclaims,
"Tonigh's gotta be the nigh'. Kill, or be killed."
"...How can yeu be so hear'less?!"
They turn to meet eyes with a glaring redhead and her more or less stoic companion.
"Oh, it's you two again."
Coraline then steps forward to defend the amber beige-skinned half-demon.
"You can't possibly be serious about killin' Jinenji."
"Of course we are."
"You have no proof tha' he's the one responsible! Can't you just-"
She's cut off by the men's prejudice arguments.
"How can you be so naive?"
"They hate us, the witch and her monster son!"
"They're cowards is what they are."
Coraline growls at them in anger, and Inuyasha felt his own eyes narrow.
"Interesting, because the way that I see it, it's the other way around."
The men are taken aback, and the silverette adds,
"But right now, we've got bigger problems, like catching the real flesh-eater."
"What'd ya mean, 'real flesh-eater'? You plannin' on catchin' it?"
Realizing that the only way to save Jinenji is to expose the true killer, Coraline decides to let her companion take care of the search while she protects the innocent.
"Inuyasha, I'm goin' back."
"Back where?"
"To Jinenji's, where else?"
She then sternly addresses the small crowd of village men once more.
"While my friend here tracks down the real monster, I'll be busy protectin' the only lives I think are worth the trouble. If you try anything, I won' hesitate to knock you lot flat, an' never mind Inuyasha in a fit of rage if I'm to be harmed."
Said silverette shoots her an incredulous look.
"Ey! Whaddo you mean fit of rage? And don't you start makin' more trouble for me to get you out of!"
"Aoh calm down, will ya? I got things here; yeu jus' worry about slaying the flesh-eat'a."
"...Hauh, fine, whatever, but expect an 'I told you so' later if I do hafta save your ass."
"Noted."
The men begin conversing among themselves, eyeing the pair in suspicion.
"Do ya think we can trust 'em?"
"Wouldn't hold my breath."
Small Time Skip, Inuyasha's POV
Though I really didn't feel obligated to stick around and help that Jinenji character, his mother and those bitter humans, I knew Coraline wasn't going to give up on the problem so quickly. Just proves that despite knowing about the cruel reality of prejudice people, the woman still has enough room in her heart to allow moments of reaching out like this.
Then again, she did make the effort to befriend me, even when I had been mean to her...
Anyway, while she plays guard at the herb garden, I hurry to the deeper forest to track the scent of the real demon responsible for the attacks on the village.
That murdered woman. I could smell demon all over her...
I smell it now. Really close.
Coraline's POV
While Inuyasha made off to track the true monster that's been terrorizing this village, I head back to Jinenji's place to speak with his mother in the fields about what's going on...
"They did, did they?"
"Aye, which is why I told th'm I'd be here while Inuyasha searches fo' the real demon responsible for these attacks. I have strong hopes Jinenji can an' will be prov'n innocent."
"(...Shrug) Have it your way."
Satisfied that my presence won't be a hindrance, I then decide to make myself useful by helping out in the fields. I wander over to kneel my Jinenji and ask,
"Just pull weeds out, right?"
"(...Nod) Yeah."
...As I work on tugging away the unneeded greenery, I feel Jinenji's presence shift a bit away from me, not that I could blame him...I am a human, after all...I soon glance his direction, noting the heavy scarring on his arms and body.
So many marks...Must've been the doin' of those villagers...
"Jinenji...has the thought of leavin' this place ever occurred to you?"
"...This place is best."
"Hm?"
"My Pa built this farm."
"Ah..."
I found myself smiling a little at his courage, the kind of courage that I, at one time ago, didn't have.
"...You're alot braver than I am, then."
"Hm?"
"...I too have been th' subject of prejudice minds when I was young. Y'see...I'm no ordinary human. I have this, gift, which allows me t' see the 'extraordinary among the ordinary', otherwise known as the supernatural."
I frown as my mind drifts over Majora Village and its residents.
"Unfortunately, most of the people from me old home couldn't understand tha' my gift wasn't dangerous, especially kids around my age...Some of the bolder ones even threw dirt in my eyes to try and blind me."
I sensed his eyes widen a bit, his aura reflecting interest.
"...They did?"
"Yes, among other physical abuse...After m' father died, I no longer felt any true ties to Majora anymore...so I chose to leave just shy of ten years old."
I turn to the large half-demon and smile encouragingly.
"That's why I think you're the bravest out'a the two of us. You can find the strength to keep living in your home...while I couldn't and, chose a somewhat cowardly route."
Jinenji's POV
I turn back to the plants after she finished her story...yet found myself glancing back at this strange human.
I did it...For the first time, I talked to a girl, and she didn't scream...
Not only that, but she called me brave.
My ears then pick up on the sound of a tune being hummed, and the girl turns back to me after sensing my stare.
"Oh, heh, sorry...All of these events has go' me thinkin' about a, certain song. It talks abou' taking away the words that affect a person negatively, and replacing them with positiveness."
"...How does it go?"
She seemed surprised by my question, but then smiles and began singing the words...
No POV
At Jinenji's soft request, Coraline began singing the first verse and chorus of Kill A Word by Eric Church.
Note: I do not know that music reference, as it belongs to the artist named. I thought this song would be perfect for this chapter, so I recommend finding it to listen to.
The giant half-demon was easily drawn in by the lyrics, and the young redhead continues to work away at the weeds, her voice coming out soft but strong...In the distance, Jinenji's mother could also hear the crooning, and found herself thinking about the one behind it.
That girl is somethin', alright. She's unafraid of Jinenji, and actually finds 'im braver than she is...
Though based on the story she told, it sounds like she didn't have a good childhood either...
And yet, this song...It speaks a message of power; finding the strength to change the way people look at ya.
A little while later, the odd pair decide to take a break, and we watch Jinenji toss out some seed for a flock of Eurasian Tree Sparrows to eat...One of the tiny avian creatures lands on Coraline's finger, and she carefully holds it out towards the other soul beside her, he having a few resting on his body.
"Y'see? Even the birds know yo'r a good soul."
Jinenji nods, feeling something swell in him that for so long he didn't believe could be achieved.
Is this what it feels like to be happy?
...
At the same time a bond begins to forge between the gentle giant and compassionate Aura Reader, Inuyasha had reached the end of the invisible road that the demonic scent traced in the forest.
...Right here. I'm sure of it.
He kneels down and brushes aside some dead leaves.
It's fresh, like just buried.
He sends a hard punch to the exposed ground...and it loosens, causing him to fall into an underground cavern!
"Gah! Aaaaah!...Gh, aw man...Where am I? Where is this?"
The silverette rises to a stand, and immediately begins scoping the place out, noticing an inordinate amount of bones...human bones, at that.
"...Huh?"
He then comes across a nest of sorts, with luminous green eggs resting in a slime deposit...As he got closer, he sees that some of the shells had already cracked.
"They're eggs, and something just hatched out of 'em too. This is definitely their nest...Hh! Uh oh. And if they hatched, their parents must've taken them out for training. And training for what? Eating humans, that's what, giving them a taste for human flesh."
Inuyasha turn away, concluding what he deems to be the biggest problem.
"Coraline's in danger."
...
...
The dark of the evening soon drops over the lands, and a larger group of the resident men from earlier are now approaching the herb farm with torches and weapons in hand.
"Maybe we shouldn't."
"Ah, don't torture yourself. That half-demon's got it comin'."
Another fellow nods,
"Why should we have to trust one half-demon to kill another anyway?"
...Inside the hut, Coraline is seen slumped against the wall asleep, while Jinenji stares at the burning fire in thought.
This feeling...I can't explain it. Being with her...I feel so warm.
Unfortunately, this moment of peace would be cut short when a stone is thrown through the wooden-barred window, followed by the collective shouts of the men, startling the three souls awake. Coraline curses quietly,
"It's those men again."
"I know. It's okay, stay here."
The middle-aged woman grabs a garden hoe for protection and heads outside her home, cringing from some rocks thrown at her by the angry men.
"Old witch!"
"We let you live here with us too!"
Hating the sound of those jeers, the redhead rushes out the home to shield the older woman.
"Hey! Knock i' off, ye cowards!"
The men stop, becoming a bit wary of her presence, she ignoring the stares to check on Jinenji's mother.
"Are yeu alright...?"
"Move, girl!"
"Why are you protecting them?!"
Twitching in anger, Coraline turns to glare hard at the small mob.
"Why? Why, y' ask? Because they've done nothin' wrong, that's why! Unlike you lot, I believe in gettin' to know people before making any sort'a judgements! Jinenji's a gentle soul who would never hurt any human, and his mother only wishes to protect h'm from lowlifes like you!"
"Uh...Do you hear that?! She's as bad as them! Get her!"
"Anyone who loves half-demons much as her must be one! I bet she's guilty too!"
With those accusations in the wind, the men proceed to throw their torches onto the hut and around it!
"No, the hut!"
"No!"
Meanwhile, poor Jinenji was crouching inside, becoming all the more frightened by the negative atmosphere...His mother takes action, preparing to charge at the mob with her hoe.
"You've gone too faaar!"
...But just before she could attack...
(Hiss...)
The men turn around to face another demon - the true cause of the recent attacks, a creature that looks like the love child of a caterpillar and a centipede - killing one of their own!
"T-That's one of our guys!"
They instantly begin retreating back, just as a large swarm of the demon bugs start eating at the fallen villager!
"It's young'uns are eating him!"
"Next they'll eat us!"
Coraline and Jinenji's mother cringe back a bit at the gruesome sight, but the latter then shouts to the men,
"There, ya see?! There's your flesh-eatin' monster right there!"
The initially antagonistic mob begins to flee every which way possible, finally understanding who the real enemy is. Watching the erupting chaos, Coraline leads Jinenji's mother back a ways while muttering,
"Gotta do someth'n', and fast..."
She then rushes back into the increasingly hot hut to get her bow and arrow as well as her satchel, while also trying to stir the cowering half-demon out of his own fears.
"Jinenji! Your moth'r needs your help outside! The demons have come!"
He looks up at Coraline for a moment...before hurrying outside to his mother and watch the young redhead drop her satchel a couple feet ahead, then ready her first arrow against the largest opposing demon.
"There's no way I can use my combat knife agains' these things...Hrrr-gah!"
The thin ammo flies, piercing the creature's neck!
"Got it!"
...Unfortunately, the strike hardly did much in slowing the demon down, and before she could react fast enough, Coraline is sent flying with a hard whack by the bug demon's tail!...Miraculously, she's still conscious even after a harsh ground roll...
"Agh!"
However, she falls back down after a failed attempt to get back up, her right wrist throbbing badly.
"D-Damn, I must'a sprained it...Huh?"
She then looks up, and sees the demon leering at her!
"Oh crap!"
Jinenji sees it too...and as the demon unleashes its long, red tongue to attack Coraline...
(Gleam)
The gentle giant's eyes flash red, before he rushes to sock the dark creature in its mouth!...But the move would come with a cost, as the demon bug takes its tail and constricts Jinenji by his throat! His mother calls out for him, while Coraline could only stare at him in wonder as she releases her grip on the handle of her combat knife.
"Jinenji..."
"Hurry, get away! Hgh, only you, ever really treated me like a real person!...Hh, i-if I let you die here, I don't deserve being half-human."
"...Oh, Jinenji..."
His mother is just as amazed by his proclamation...
Meanwhile, the villagers were becoming overwhelmed by the number of demon young.
"Aaagh!"
"S-Somebody he-Aauuaah!"
(...Slash)
"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!"
Luckily, Inuyasha finally returns to cut down on the enemy...Mind you, his concern stretches for only one human.
"Coraline! Where are you?!"
"...Inuyasha!"
He turns right and sees the girl standing by Jinenji's mother as the other half-demon continues to keep the monster back...
"Please, help Jinenji!"
"Wha-"
"Don't you do it!"
Both the silverette and redhead fixate their eyes on Jinenji's mother in surprise at her disapproval to give her son a hand.
"What?!"
"You mustn't help him. Jinenji must learn to fight for himself."
"...And this is the time?"
Inuyasha catches the teachable seriousness in the older woman's face...and silently agrees with her.
This is the time.
He then spots the men from the main village trying to skulk away without being spotted...He leaps forward and lands right in front of the crowd, forcing them to halt...because let's face it: was our red-clad swordsman really going to let a bunch of mice continue to pretend to be men?
"Uh-h!"
"Don't tell me you're leaving? (Smirk) And here the fun was just gettin' started. Who's the big coward now?"
The men finally admit the truth.
"We are, okay?! Just don't hurt us!"
"Help us! We're beggin' here!"
"Oooh~, I get it. Whoever is strongest is leader of your pack, eh?"
Inuyasha then shouts to the other half-demon,
"Jinenji, show the cowards! Teach 'em who's boss!"
Though surprised, the giant does as the silverette encourages, his eyes flashing red again as he rips the demon's tail away from his neck, before grasping the creature tightly around its torso!...He then squeezes the monster tightly, just as his body glows a bright blue in accordance to unleashing a torrent of power and strength.
"Hrrrrrrraaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
(...POW)
The large bug demon explodes, leaving its head and open target for Jinenji to sucker-punch to pieces! The villagers are left in awe, as is Coraline.
"...Such incredible strength..."
Jinenji catches his breath after showing off a fragment of his more demonic power, before turning towards the men, causing them to cower on their knees...Inuyasha watches their antics and comments dryly,
"Well, I guess it's better late than never..."
Coraline comes over to his side and asks a bit uncertainly,
"Um, not that I don' agree with the overall point in this exercise, but wouldn' this also count as goin' a bit over th' top?"
"Maybe, but he's gotta, otherwise they'll never respect 'im. Fat chance in teachin' these mangy dogs new tricks."
"Fair enough...Still..."
They focus back on Jinenji as he stops in front of the villagers.
"We're sorry..."
"W-We're-gah!"
One men cowers again, thinking the giant half-demon was going to pound them.
"Please don't hurt us, please!"
"...It's just..."
Jinenji opens his fist, revealing herbs.
"Lots of you are hurt. This will help you get better faster."
Coraline smiles a bit at his kindness.
"Hm, I had a feeling he'd do that," while Inuyasha mutters,
"All that for nothin'..."
"No, Inuyasha, you were righ' the first time. Jinenji has shown th'm a thing or two that they'll think twice in their actions...Howev'a, this doesn' mean he has to be so aggressive twenty-four seven. He can continue to be the gentle soul he is...but now, he has th' confidence to defend others, and himself."
"Hm..."
After giving the crowd the herbs, Jinenji turns to walk over to his mother.
"How are you, Ma? You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"Oh, Jinenji, you..."
"I know..."
The old woman smiles proudly at her son and thinks,
If that's how thing are, that's how they'll be.
Time Skip
Come the next morning, Inuyasha and Coraline prepare to leave the village and regroup with their friends at the hut they were staying in...
"Are y' sure you'll be alright?"
"Oh, we'll be fine. You hurry and take that medicine to your friend, alright?"
The redhead nods, before directing her vision to Jinenji who's assessing the damage to his home.
"See you again, Jinenji."
He turns and walks over in front of Coraline, who forms a somewhat sad smile.
"It's time for us to head out."
"Okay."
"Thank yeu, for everything, including the remedy for my wrist."
Her right appendage is seen to be bandaged by some gauze...Jinenji stares at her for a minute, before softly replying,
"You're welcome."
With that, the half-demon and Aura Reader set out...
The herb farmers watch them go for a minute or two, before Jinenji's mother remarks,
"Maybe we should be thankin' them...Okay, that's enough of that: too much work for tears...What?"
"Hm?"
That's when some of the men from last night come into view, holding tools and lumber in their hands.
"...We'll help."
"Huh?"
Jinenji's mother is shocked by this turn in emotions...but then says with a shrug,
"Have it your way."
Everyone soon gets to work on repairs for the home and replanting the gardens, a new atmosphere of trust and understanding settling into the air...Meanwhile, Coraline and Inuyasha have gotten a good distance away from the village, and the former asks a question she feels both reluctant and inspired to inquire over.
"So, Inuyasha..."
"Yeah?"
"...Forgive me for askin', but, were you also...?"
"What?"
"...Subjected to discrimination? Did people harm ye for no good reason?"
Inuyasha replies offhandedly,
"Keh, yeah right...I don't roll over for anybody."
"Heh, no, of course not..."
But what he really means is that he was...
"...I'm not one or the other."
The teens pause in the middle of the dirt road.
"Pardon?"
"Not really a demon, not really human...I'm not either. That's all; there was no place for me...so I had to make one for myself...And then I realized, I had a place, but I was the only one in it. I didn't have any other way to live."
"Inuyasha..."
Coraline smiles a little in an empathetic manner, causing the half-dog demon to look at her confusingly.
"What's with that smile?"
"Well, it's jus', you've never really spoken so openly before...and, I get the feelin'. I too feel no place in normal society. (...Frown) Even when I stand in'a crowd of humans today in downtown Tokyo, I still feel like their judgin' me. (...Small smile) But hearin' this side of you, this nonchalan' confidence to speak of the past, no matter how ugly it may be...it makes me feel a bi' braver."
"Really? That makes you happy and braver?"
"Mhm...But hey, don't feel you need t' show your softer side all the time. I don' need you t' force what you don't want."
"Kh, you make it sound like I'm a pet that needs company."
"Hehaha, you're far from being anyone's pet, mo chara...And besides, what's wrong with no' bein' alone?"
Coraline begins walking ahead, humming the same song from before, while Inuyasha thinks to himself on the subject.
...It's true. I'm not alone, am I?
Somehow, without me ever noticing it, it felt so natural...having Coraline near.
...She gets me, too. Understands the need to put up your guard more against others, to protect yourself.
He ups his own pace to meet her steps, picking up on the tune slipping between her closed lips.
"Huh? What's that you're humming?"
"Hm? Oh, it's a song from my time. I, found myself singing i' while workin' with Jinenji in the fields..."
"...You sing?"
"Heh, every now and again...Music's become a good copin' mechanism for me over the years. Helps me feel bett'a when I'm feeling down...Actually, you might like this one. It talks about killing the words that hurt us."
"Killing words, huh?"
Things go quiet for a minute...before Inuyasha shrugs,
"Alright, let's hear it."
Coraline nods, and as they continue down the path back to their friends, the silence would be filled in with her voice...Inuyasha will have taken in every word, a ghost of a smile forming from the encouraging message laced within each line...