-Welcome to chapter 3, when I started writing this chapter, the stats tab was showing me that no one was reading it. It is now showing quite a few but it can obviously no be trusted for accuracy. If you are reading this and enjoying it, please feel free to review just so I know this is being enjoyed.
Disclaimer – I do not own InuYasha and if I did, he would have ended up with Sango and there would be much more InuSan fan fictions. Since I have read most of the longer complete ones on here, I could only say in a deep, menacing voice "Fine, I'll do it myself."
Just so you know, I have not watched the Final Act or the Sequel series as I just don't want to see them end up with the wrong people, in my opinion. I have done some research thus why I do make some references to things that happen in the Final Act series. I know the twist with the Jewel but I am not a fan of it so I choose to ignore it
The song for this chapter is Over the Hill – however this is the first where I am specifically using the remixed version from the Worlds Apart album called Moguo's Knife Party by Benjamin Briggs
Chapter 3 – The Lovers' Journey, Meeting New Friends, Reuniting with Old
InuYasha awoke the following morning to find that Sango was already awake and out of bed. Taking a look around, he saw that Hiraikotsu was removed from its usual resting place on the wall and figured she was getting it ready for their departure. He stood from the bed, stretching the sleep from his body and started gathering his clothes from where they had ended up the night before.
As he grabbed his hakama, he could feel his mate entering their hut. He was about to start getting dressed when he felt her hand grazing his backside. Chuckling, InuYasha couldn't help his response. "Miroku, you pervert."
Sango couldn't help but giggle at the reference to their longtime friend and his roaming hands. She moved her hands to be wrapped around him and placed a kiss on his shoulder. InuYasha turned in her arms and placed a loving kiss on her lips and he pulled her to him.
After a moment, Sango pulled away, knowing that if she didn't things would go farther and breakfast would burn. "Get dressed," she said as she released her love. "Breakfast will be ready in just a moment then we can head out." Sango turned to the door and InuYasha watched her leave, and boy did he enjoy it. Taking in the fact that she was in her taijiya suit and that leaves nothing to the imagination, InuYasha got dressed himself, struggling a little with his hakama. He then grabbed Sango's traveling kimono from where it ended up the previous night and rushed out the door.
"Don't forget to take this," he said softly as he handed it to her. "I don't want anyone else to get to appreciate the view that I do." He had a glint in his eye that Sango had come to know so well in the time since they mated. He loved the taijiya suit as it was the closest he could get to seeing his mate's naked body in public, but it also meant that others could see it too, a fact he did not love.
Sango chuckled as she packed it in her traveling bundle. She loved her mate, but he could be a bit possessive, something she had learned in her travels with him in the past. He was never possessive of me back then, but better late than never she thought as she tied the bundle over her shoulder. Once she had her belongings secure, she handed InuYasha a bowl of ramen she had made with some of the leftover boar and some noodles she had made from rice. She had gotten up very early to make it special for him.
InuYasha looked at the bowl in front of him and then at his mate. She could feel his love as he gazed at her. "You made this special for me?" he asked in a soft voice.
Sango turned to her love and gave him a beaming smile. "Of course, I love you and I wanted to make it special for you before we left."
InuYasha put his bowl on the ground and pulled his mate into a crushing hug. He knew that if she was still as she was before their mating, he probably would have paralyzed her. "Thank you," he whispered softly in her ear. He nipped at her ear to show the affection he felt, wanting to make sure she understood just how much he meant those words. "I love you, too." Placing a soft kiss on her mouth, he pulled back and started eating the meal his mate had made for him. It was a million times better than the instant ramen, he felt it may have been that his mate's scent was all over it and she had made it for him from her heart.
As they ate their breakfast they began talking about their trip. "So, are we just heading straight there and back?" Sango asked after slurping a big mouthful of needles.
"That was the original plan, however since it's both of us and I won't be in a rush to get back home to be with you, I was thinking we might make a couple of stops," InuYasha said, looking at his mate. "I was thinking we might stop by Kaede-baba's and then head over to Mushin's temple to see Miroku and Shippou."
Sango gave him another beaming smile and said, "I love that idea. I haven't seen any of them since we parted ways. You know who else is on the way? Jinenji. I have never had a chance to thank him for helping Kirara. Maybe we can visit him, too."
"As you wish, my love," InuYasha gave her a smile of his own. He loved that smile that she gave him, and he seemed to be getting a lot of them recently.
As they were finishing up their breakfast, Kohaku walked out of his hut, trying to stifle a big yawn but failing miserably. "You two are up and moving early," he said taking in presence of Hiraikotsu and his sister's attire. "Are you guys going somewhere?"
"Yes," Sango replied to her younger brother. "We are going on a trip to visit some friends and get the rest of Inu-kun's things from the western lands." She stood and put her hand on his shoulder, "You take care of things for us here and we'll be back in a little while."
"I'm thinking a fortnight or so," InuYasha said, grabbing his mate's giant boomerang from its resting place on the ground. "You should be fine on your own. If you don't mind, could you get a few huts in order for people to live in them. I'm hopeful we won't be coming back alone."
"I will take care of it," Kohaku said taking a bowl of breakfast. He looked curiously at the meal before him. This was something his sister has tried many times before; he had always enjoyed it but she was never satisfied.
"Alright, I think everything is ready to go, except I haven't seen Kirara in a couple of days," Sango said as she took Hiraikotsu from InuYasha. "She must be off to see her mysterious friend." At her mate's confused look, she explained. "Every couple of months she'll disappear for a few days then come back with a clean coat and bandana tied around her neck and any scars she has suffered in the time between are almost fully removed. I wish I could meet this friend, maybe they could remove some of my scars."
"I love your scars," InuYasha said as he gathered a large wooden basin from the shelf he had built the previous day and started toward the nearby river to gather water to clean dishes. "Each one tells a story of the hardships you have been through, each one tells about the things that have shaped you into the woman I love."
A blush rushed to her face as she gathered the now empty pot, the utensils she used to make breakfast, and the bowls InuYasha and her used to eat. As she finished gathering everything up, she looked at Kohaku and saw a dark look in his eyes. "Are you ok, Kohaku?" she asked concern for her brother filling her eyes.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about how I caused a few of your scars. Anytime I think of my time with him I just can't help the dark thoughts that enter my mind," Kohaku said, staring deeply into his bowl.
Sango was about to reassure him that she did not hold him responsible, but her mate spoke first. "You had no control over yourself. You were nothing more than a puppet being used by Naraku until you were able to get your strings cut. Anything you did under his control, is his fault, not yours." InuYasha punctuated his point by dropping the now full water basin in front of the young slayer. "Your sister cooked, I got the water, you clean. Once you finish of course."
"Alright, well we're heading out," Sango said walking up to her brother. He stood and gave her a quick hug and InuYasha clapped him on the shoulder giving him a smile and a nod. He was a little less uncomfortable with displays of affection, but really only for his mate. "If Kirara shows up while we are gone, let her know that she can find us at either Kaede's village, Mushin's temple, or the western lands."
"Of course, Ane-ue," Kohaku said as he retook his seat to finish breakfast. "If I see her, I will let her know."
Sango and InuYasha headed out the front gate of the village side by side and started making their way to Kaede's village. Based on the speed they could move, they should be able to make it before the end of the day. They walked in a peaceful silence for several hours, just enjoying the fresh air, the sounds of nature, and each other's company.
As the sun reached high in the sky, Sango removed two bowls from her pack. They had lids on them and were semi-transparent, a gift from Kagome that she had called Tupperware. Sango had stored some of the leftovers from breakfast in them for the journey. As the two ate, they reminisced about their previous journey and some of the things that they remembered.
After a while, Sango started to blush at one of her thoughts and she asked a burning question that was on her mind. "Inu-kun," she started after she had finished her portion of food. Her mate looked at her with a mouthful of noodles hanging from his mouth. "When did you realize how you felt about me?"
InuYasha slurped his noodle quickly into his mouth before turning his entire body to look at his love. "Honestly, it came on rather gradually. It was a touch here, a smile there, a look. Seeing you in the moonlight on so many numerous occasions. I don't know that there was an exact moment I fell for you, however, I knew how I felt after the mists of Mount Kasumidake. Had Kagome not sat me at that moment, we would have kissed and I would have been yours from then on."
A glower came across Sango's face at the thought her friend. She loved Kagome, but the fact that she would not accept InuYasha as anything other than a hanyou really rubbed her the wrong way. Also, the fact that she abused the rosary that gave her power over him made her furious. It should have only been used when he did something dangerous to himself or others, not when he said or did something that she didn't like.
It was then that Sango noticed that the rosary was still around her mate's neck. "Why are you still wearing them?" she asked. "Can't Kaede remove them?"
"Yeah, but they've kinda grown on me," InuYasha replied with a wave of his hand. "Also, I'm never gonna see Kagome again, so it's not like I have to worry about them being used again."
Unless we meet her in 500 years Sango thought giggling to herself. As much as she hated the power they gave, she would find it hilarious if he ever fell pray to them if he chose not to have them removed.
"What's so funny?"
"I'll tell you is it ever comes up," she replied with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"Keh, Whatever." This response just made her giggles turn into a fit of laughter and she leaned into her mate as she started falling to the side from her sitting position on the ground.
"What's so funny?" InuYasha asked, wrapping Sango in his arms, giving her a glare.
"I was just thinking about how some parts of you have changed so much but others have not," she responded placing a hand on his cheek. After a moment, the two parted and finished up their lunch before packing back up and starting on to Kaede's village once again.
They arrived on the village outskirts just as the sun began to go down. With InuYasha's knock on the outer wall of Kaede's hut, a small ball of fur launched itself at Sango. Before she realized what had happened, Sango found her small cat friend, Kirara, nuzzling into her neck. "Is this where you go to see your mysterious friend?" she asked hugging the small demon to her chest.
"Mew" was the only response she got before Kirara jumped to InuYasha's shoulder and nuzzled him as well, happy to see her old friend.
"It's nice to see you too, Kirara, and we'll be seeing a lot more of each other as well," InuYasha responded petting the demon as she continued to nuzzle him.
"I see, so this is why she was so quick to charge out," a female voice spoke from within the hut. A young woman, appearing about Sango's age walked out of the hut with a smile on her face. The woman had long, platinum blonde hair and pale blue eyes. She wore the garb of a miko, however her pointed ears gave away her true heritage.
"I don't know that I have ever heard of a demon miko before," InuYasha said, taking a quick step in front of his mate. He had never met this person before and was unsure if he trusted her.
"InuYasha, is that ye?" an old voice sounded from inside the hut. A diminutive woman with a long gray hair and a single eye stepped out of the hut followed by another woman in miko clothing. This one had long black hair and rounded ears. "And Sango, what a pleasure it is to see ye. It has been far too long. I see that you have met Shimo. She is the first full demon I have met with the power of a miko and is one of my apprentices."
"A pleasure to meet you InuYasha-sama and Sango-sama, Kaede-sama has told me much about you." The demon before them bowed low to the couple before her. "Kirara has also made me understand how wonderful of a mistress you are to her, Sango-sama." Her voice made InuYasha shiver for a moment, it reminded him of Sesshoumaru's but almost held a physical chill.
Her comment made Sango blush for a moment before looking to Shimo again. "You must be her mystery friend. The one who keeps her clean and helps with her wounds. You have my gratitude, Shimo-sama," Sango said with a deep bow of her own.
"Please, I am just Shimo," she said with a slight smile.
"And I am just Sango, and this is just InuYasha," Sango replied with a smile of her own.
"Yeah, I ain't a lord or nothing, just a man visiting some friends with his mate," InuYasha said, his stance lightening and stepping out from in front of Sango. He felt like he could trust this woman if Kaede was willing to vouch for her.
"Your mate?" Kaede said with a shocked voice. She rushed forward and grabbed the two in a bone-crushing hug. "I am so happy for ye two. I always had a feeling."
As Kaede released them, InuYasha instinctively scratched the back of his head. "Thanks, Kaede-baba," he said with a slight smile.
The young woman behind Kaede rushed forward, rage filling her eyes as she approached the male demon before her. "How dare you speak Kaede-sama with such disrespect!" she started.
Surprised and touched at her apprentice's outrage, Kaede placed a hand on her arm. "Calm yourself, Sakura. I have known InuYasha for most of my life and he has never been one to show respect to anyone. This is merely the way he shows affection for someone."
"No," InuYasha said looking at the young woman with respect at her outburst and defense of his old friend. "She is right, Kaede-baachan. You have shown me great care and respect in my time here and you are due some as well." He gave slight bow to Sakura and Kaede before proceeding into the hut.
Sakura couldn't help but shake her head as he said those words then went into the hut without waiting for an invitation. Sango was laughing quietly at her mate's words and actions as she took Kaede's arm and escorted her into the hut. Shimo followed them inside with a quick glance at Sakura. Her rage slowly subsided and then Sakura followed. Obviously InuYasha was important to her mentor and she would put up with him until he left. She could only hope that it was sooner rather than later.
As the evening grew later, InuYasha volunteered to make dinner for the five of them given that Sango and his appearance had been rather sudden. He prepared a hearty and delicious beef stew that everyone enjoyed and there was more than enough for each to have more the next day. After seeing the demon and his mate eat almost twice what anyone else did, Kaede couldn't help but ask Sango a question. "Sango, I see that your appetite has developed since I last saw you. Are you alright?"
"Sango blushed at being called out on her eating habits. "Yeah, it's just that since InuYasha and I mated, my appetite has become like his. It has something to do with our bond. Our mating made my body stronger like his, but it also made me need more fuel to keep it running."
"I see, so you have taken each other forever," Kaede stated in understanding. She knew this was something that happened when a human /and demon mated with a bond to be tied forever.
"Yep, we will never need to worry about being apart," InuYasha said, snaking his arm around his mate and pulling her into his lap. Sango accepted his actions and rested her head on his chest, appreciating the closeness.
Another soft smile came to Shimo's face as she took in the lovers in front of her. After a few moments, she spoke to the two. "If you wish some privacy, I would offer you the use of my hut. It is just down the road and I can stay here with Kaede tonight." She reached for her untouched bowl of stew and finally started eating it.
"Thank you, Shimo. We are grateful for your hospitality," Sango said as she tried to get up. Before she could do so, InuYasha stood holding her bridal style. With a slight bow so as not to drop his love he set off out of the hut. He found their destination quickly by following his nose to the hut that smelled like their new friend.
The hut was very barren. All that it contained was a worn spear and a bedroll. InuYasha lowered himself down to the floor and nuzzled his mate. As much as they wanted to make love, they agreed that it would feel weird to do so in someone else's bed. So, they just laid down on the bedroll, arms wrapped around each other. InuYasha laid on his back with his arms around Sango's waist and she laid her head on his chest with her arms around his.
XxXxXxXxX
Shimo looked after the retreating couple with a thoughtful look on her face. Kaede noticed this look and approached her apprentice. "What is it Shimo?"
"I can feel in my heart that my life is tied to theirs," she said in a soft voice.
Kaede looked at the demon before her and nodded. "You told me when you came to me, that you just wanted to learn to use your power to help others. You have learned this and I can teach you no more about how to use your powers. It is now time for you to find your path in life. Perhaps that means that you should go with them and they will help you to find it."
"Perhaps you are right, Kaede-sama," Shimo said with a nod. "I will speak to them in the morning. Thank you for your continued wisdom." With that she sat on the bedroll that Kaede always had out for a wayward traveler that may seek shelter in the night in began to sleep. In her sleep, she saw a man that she had never met. He wore the attire of a monk and he had striking indigo eyes. A part of her felt a connection to the mysterious man, but she couldn't place what.
The following morning, Shomi was sat in Kaede's hut as InuYasha and Sango arrived for breakfast. Kaede had warmed up most of the stew from the previous night and all enjoyed it for a second time.
Once breakfast was finished, InuYasha and Sango rose from their places. InuYasha was the first to speak. "Well, it has been a pleasure visiting you Kaede-baachan and getting to know your apprentices, but I think it's time that we hit the road."
Shimo rose from her resting place and bowed low to the guests. "Please wait," she started looking between them. "I have a feeling in my heart that my life is tied to yours. My training here is complete as I never intended to become a village miko, simply one that used her powers to help others. I would like to ask, if I may, can I come with you on your journey?"
InuYasha looked to Sango who just nodded her head. "We have no problem with you coming with us but we are just visiting some friends, grabbing stuff from my old home, and then we are returning home to the Taijiya village."
"I thank you," Shomi said with another bow.
"Enough with the bowing, I said yesterday that I'm not a lord so don't bow to me," InuYasha said crossing his arms over his chest. "I would say grab your stuff but given that we slept in your hut and all you had was a spear, we can head out once you grab it."
Shomi held back another bow as she rushed to her hut and grabbed her spear. When she exited, everyone was standing outside waiting for her. Kaede was giving Sango a hug and then forced InuYasha into one. Shomi felt that even though he resisted, he appreciated the act. Kaede then turned to her and gave Shomi a bone crushing hug as well. The strength of the old woman always surprised her. Turning to Sakura, she received a much softer hug before the now quartet started making their way out of the village.
They spent most of the day walking in silence, however it was not an awkward silence. Shomi could feel the bond her companions shared and it put her at ease. Ass the sun started setting, InuYasha decided that he would go and get them some dinner and the two females began setting up camp for the night. Sango gathered up some wood for a fire and got it started using a flint she had in her pack.
The night was cold but it did not bother Shomi, she enjoyed it. She stayed well back from the fire but enjoyed the company of her new found friend. After about 30 minutes, InuYasha returned with some large fish for them to eat. After cooking them quickly, the couple huddled by the fire and ate in silence. Sango looked at Shomi and gave her a quizzical look. She had not even touched the fish the InuYasha had staked in front of her after it finished cooking.
"Shomi, are you ok?" she asked after finishing her dinner. "You can come closer to the fire and if you let your fish sit too long it will get cold…" She trailed off as something suddenly seemed to hit her. Platinum blonde hair, ice blue eyes, of course. "Never mind, I understand now. I feel so dumb for not realizing it sooner."
"Not a problem, Sango-chan," Shomi said with a slight smile. "Not many people even know how to identify ice demons when they see them. We are rather uncommon so most slayers aren't even taught much about us." With that she held her hand out to the fish, it had cooled enough that she could chill it to a reasonable temperature with her powers and then she took a bite.
"You're an ice demon, that makes so much sense now," InuYasha said as he absorbed the words from the others. "I know a fire demon and I killed a couple of thunder demon's years ago but I've never met an ice demon."
"As I said, we are uncommon. In fact, from what I have been told, my parents were the last 2 full ice demons in existence. All others are half ice half something else. Meaning, I am the last pure ice demon. The purity of the ice demon blood will die with me."
"That is so sad," Sango said as she took in her new friend. She was beautiful in her own unique way, much like a snowflake. Her face was filled with sorrow as she discussed her parents and her destiny to end her entire race. "Don't think of it as your species ending, they are just changing with the love that is shared with others."
"Thank you, Sango-chan. It is nice to finally have someone that I feel I can truly call a friend. Though I have just met you two, I feel that we will be friends for a very long time to come."
"I agree," Sango said with one of her beaming smiles. "Don't you agree, Inu-Kun?"
"Keh, whatever."
"Don't mind him, he struggles to talk about his feelings in front of people other than me." The females started to giggle at their male companion. The blush that came to his cheeks just furthered their amusement and the giggles turned into laughter. Even the tiny neko was making a noise as if she were laughing at him.
XxXxXxXxX
Jinenji stood tending to his field as the sun was high in the sky. He looked to the far side of the field where a large stone slab stood remembering the days he worked alongside his mother. She had passed the previous winter due to an illness that even his herbs could not heal. He had felt worthless as she lay dying in his arms but she had told him not to feel that way. She had said she was finally going to be with his father.
He couldn't help but feel empty as his time at work continued. The villagers had accepted him, but over time they had stopped helping him. A part of him still felt like they had helped him only out of fear. When his mother passed, they had completely cut themselves off from him, as though her death would make him snap into a monster.
With a soft sigh, he continued to pull weeds from the garden. He still appreciated that his father had left it for him and his mother was buried there, but he was starting to feel like he needed to move on. Go somewhere new.
As he was in thought, he heard laughter in the distance. He looked toward the source to see three people walking down the road toward him. He felt alarmed as he did not recognize any of the people coming towards him, but he did recognize that one of them wore a taijiya outfit.
He grabbed a hoe and held it before him as though it was a mighty weapon and stood his ground. As they approached, one of them started to look slightly familiar but very different than he remembered. His clothes reminded him of his half demon friend, he had similar ears, and his face was almost the same other that the purple stripes on his cheeks.
"Jinenji, long time no see," the familiar man said and he recognized the voice immediately.
"InuYasha, my friend," he said dropping the hoe. If his friend was here, the others were no threat to him. "You look so different; I didn't recognize you."
"Yeah, I used the Shikon no Tama to become a full-blooded demon," InuYasha said with a grin. "How have you been?"
A shadow came over Jinenji's eyes as he looked toward his mother's grave Following his gaze, InuYasha's heart broke for his large friend. "Jinenji, I am so sorry. I know what you are going through. It will hurt less, I promise." He walked up to the gentle giant and gave him a hug. The moment he embraced him, Jinenji did something he had been unable to do in the months since losing his mother, he wept.
Sango and Shimo looked on as InuYasha comforted Jinenji in his time of need and felt their hearts break for the large man. Sango was near tears herself as she felt both her and her mate's heartbreak and InuYasha was not holding his tears back. If she could, Shimo would be crying as well. However, all she could do was pull her new friend into a hug so she would not collapse at the overwhelming feeling of emotion.
They all stood like this for several minutes, just letting their emotions flow out of them. After they had cried enough, InuYasha pulled away from the hanyou. "What about the villagers, are they helping out at all?"
Jinenji shook his head, "No, I think they are afraid that without my mother around, I will become some kind of monster."
InuYasha shook his head, fury clear on his face. "You saved their lives! How do they still think you would do something like that?!"
"I do not know," Jinenji said, looking at the ground.
"Well, they ain't worth it," InuYasha said trying to calm himself as much as cheering up Jinenji. Looking at his mate he realized that he had not introduced anyone yet. "Oh, Jinenji, I want to introduce to Sango, my mate. Sango, this is Jinenji, the herbalist that helped save Kirara."
Sango walked up and gave Jinenji a smile and a bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you Jinenji, and I wanted to say thank you for saving my friend, Kirara. This is her, by the way." She gestured to the small neko demon on her shoulder.
Kirara looked at the giant and gave a happy meow in greeting. Jinenji gave her a smile. "You are welcome, Sango and Kirara. It is pleasure to meet you both."
"And this is our new friend, Shimo." InuYasha gestured to the ice demon and she walked forward gracefully and bowed to the hanyou.
"A pleasure to meet you gentle Jinenji," she said as she rose from her bow.
The giant blushed and bowed to her back, "Thank you, the pleasure is mine."
"Jinenji, I have an idea," InuYasha started as the introductions ended. "I know this land was a gift from your father, and that your mother is buried here, but you need to move on. This place does not welcome you like it should but I know a place where you would be welcome."
"I know exactly what he is getting at and I agree whole heartedly. Come live in the taijiya village with us. We have the space; we can set up a new farm and plant your herbs there. You could use them to heal any wounded slayers. I have been wanting to get things up and running again but it was hard with just Kohaku and I, but with more of us, it will be easier and you will be welcomed with open arms."
Shimo agreed with her friends that this man needed a new place to start, and if they were trying to convince him, she would help. "I intend to live there with them as well and I would love to share knowledge of herbs with you. I may know some you do not and will definitely know some I do not."
Jinenji was torn, he had spent so much time in this farm. He wasn't sure he would be able to work anywhere else. However, for the first time in his life, he had people who were telling him to leave the farm, not to get rid of him, but to welcome him to their home instead. With one more look at his mother's grave, he gave a nod. "I will come with you."
"Excellent, we are still headed away for the moment, but on our way home we will stop in to collect you. Get your things together. We should be back within the week." InuYasha gave his large friend a gentle pat on the back and started to his mate's side.
As they started to walk away, Jinenji felt the tears welling up again, this time from the happiness of finding friends that will accept him as he was.
XxXxXxXxX
They continued on for a few more days. Things had been relatively peaceful given that they had only encountered one minor demon on their travels. As Mushin's temple came into view, they noticed something just outside the temple. A single man fighting a huge demon ape.
The three of them rushed forward to intercept the demon. With a powerful strike, the demon sent the man flying into a nearby tree. Shimo broke off and rushed to the man's side. She began reaching into her healing kit and pulled out a bundle of herbs she had taken at Jinenji's. She ground them with mortar and pestle and slathered them on the back of the man's head.
She lifted his head from where it rested on his chest and stopped for a moment in shock, this was the man from her dream. The monk she had felt connected to. His indigo eyes began to open and he saw the face of the woman before him. "Hello," he said weakly, "have I been slain and a holy being has come to take me to Nirvana?"
"Hardly," she said with a smile. Suddenly, she felt something stroking her backside and she felt like, for the first time in her life, she was blushing. "Better keep your hands down while I make sure you don't have any more wounds."
"Of course, my lady," The monk said with charming grin. The blush darkened.
While Shimo was tending to the wounded man, InuYasha and Sango were rushing to get the ape's attention. InuYasha drew his sword and with a spinning jump in front of the beast a glow began to fill his sword. The demon began to burn slightly with the light before InuYasha landed and with a thrust of his blade upward, towards the demon's belly he yelled, "Senkuu Shoureppa!" The light burst from the blade and burst out the demon's back however it was still standing.
As he was pulling his sword back, a mighty fist impacted with his face and he felt something fall into his mouth. As he landed on his back, he leaned forward and with a spit, one of his fangs fell into his hand. An idea formed itself in his mind, Now, how to do it without her realizing.
Then with a mighty throw and a yell of "Hiraikotsu", the giant boomerang entered the exit wound of her mate's attack and severed the demon in two. It Fell to the ground then InuYasha jumped on top of it and with a yell of Shugohoujin, a circle of light surrounded him and the body dissolved into nothing. The mates looked at each other, confirming that they were both relatively unharmed and rushed to the body of the fallen man.
"Miroku!" Sango yelled as she recognized the fallen body. Both picked up their pace to reach their friend faster. Sango arrived a fraction of a second prior to InuYasha and she kneeled down at her injured friend's side.
"My dear Sango, I wish you did not have to see me like this," the monk said with a slight chuckle.
"Will he be ok?" InuYasha asked Shimo as she tended his wounds.
"He is in bad shape but he should be fine with a little tending," the ice demon responded as she placed a chilled hand to the back of his head to try and reduce the swelling that had started. "It will be a few days before he is up and about on his own, but I will take care of him." The firmness in her voice left no room for argument. She was going to take care of him.
"Be careful," Sango said, looking to her new friend. "He has the worst wandering hands I have ever seen." As if speaking them into existence, both females felt his hand grace their backsides simultaneously.
Feeling his mate's rage through their bond, InuYasha grabbed the monk by his collar and started dragging him back towards the temple. "You are lucky you're my friend, Miroku, or I would have killed you for touching my mate."
"Ah, so you -ouch- and Sango did -ouch- mate after all, good -ouch- for you," Miroku said as he was pulled over the grass and was dragged over every rock that stuck out of the ground. "I suppose dragging me and -ouch- making sure I hit every rock is your revenge for me touching her -OUCH! -" As he finished, a huge pointed rock went straight into the fleshy part of his back, ripping his robes and leaving a large gash on the skin beneath.
The two females followed; both of their faces red but for two very different feelings. Shimo stopped Sango before she entered and started whispering something to her. Sango's eyes widened as she looked at her new friend in shock before she started whispering back.
InuYasha pulled the monk into the temple finally and placed him face down on the bed so he could get the gash treated. He could hear the ladies were whispering about something but couldn't quite make out what. He decided that if it concerned him, his mate would tell him so he didn't worry about it.
The whispering stopped and Shimo entered the room with the blush still on her face, med kit still in her hand as she rushed to Miroku's bedside.
Shippou came bounding out of another room at the commotion that was going on. Upon seeing Sango, he yelled her name and jumped towards her. "Sango! I missed you so much!"
"Hi Shippou, I missed you too," she said giving the kitsune a hug. She smiled at the small fox before looking over at her injured friend again. Shippou jumped out her arms and rushed over to Miroku's bed.
"What happened to him?"
"An ape demon was trying to attack the temple," InuYasha started. "He tried to take it on by himself and got wounded in the ensuing battle before we showed up to help him. Then, he touched something he shouldn't have and instead of killing him as was my right, I chouse to instead humiliate him and cause a bit of extra damage."
"Thank you for restraining yourself," Sango said, wrapping her arms around InuYasha an resting her head on his chest.
"I didn't want to kill him and I know you didn't want me to, so I held off." He gave he a big smile and she noticed the missing fang.
"Inu-kun, one of your fangs was knocked out!"
"Yeah, I noticed. I felt something fall into my mouth after that punch but I must have swallowed it." He did his best to control his own emotions whilst feeling her concern for him bubble up.
"You are ok though?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It'll grow back in a day or two." He noticed that he had some blood on his face. "Hey Shippou, anywhere I can go was this blood off?"
"Yeah, there's spring in the back you can use. Also, Myoga-jiji is here somewhere. He came shortly after you left last time and he figured you'd come by again sometime so he'd just wait for you."
"Thanks Shippou, I'll find him then head for the spring," InuYasha said as he pulled himself away from his mate. "Stay here with them, just in case they need something. I'll be right back." After getting a nod from his mate, InuYasha headed toward the library and wrote a quick note before grabbing a small leather pouch and putting the note and his fang in it. After a quick search, he found Myoga and went out to the spring with the flea.
"InuYasha-sama, It is so good to see you," the flea said, drinking some of his master's blood and swelling in size. "How are you?"
"I'm good, Myoga. I'm really happy for the first time in my life." The flea was shocked when he was able to complete his meal without being squished. "I need you to do something for me."
"Anything, InuYasha-sama!" The flea stood at attention like a soldier awaiting orders.
"Take this pouch to Toutousai, there is a note in there explaining everything. Let him know that I will be there in four days to pick it up. Got it?"
"Yes my lord." With that, flea grabbed the pouch and made off for the forge of the demon Toutousai.
InuYasha stood form his place and returned to the room they had left Miroku in. Shomi was still kneeled by his bed tending to his wounds and Sango was still looking on with a concerned look. Shippou and Kirara were nowhere to be seen so he could only assume they went outside to play. InuYasha wrapped his arms around Sango from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "He'll be ok, she is going to take care of him."
"I know," Sango responded with sigh. "I just hope he doesn't hurt her."
InuYasha looked at his mate curiously before she pulled him away from the room. Mushin had apparently been by quickly while he was gone and directed that they could use a spare room in the temple.
Sango led him to one at the end of hall and closed the door behind them. "Everyone else sleeps on the other end of the temple near Miroku's room. This is the furthest we can be from them."
"Did you have something in mind that you wanted to do that we needed to be away from them for?"
In answer to his question, she pushed the now familiar shoulder plates and cape to the ground before capturing his mouth with hers. Thus began the mating of a demon and his taijiya.
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Over 7000 words over 12 full pages but I wanted to get through all of this in one chapter because the next is going to give some info on InuYasha's time for the past 3 years. Please let me know if you are liking this. I will see you soon for Roses of May
Also, 10 points to the first house that can tell me where the names for InuYasha's attacks come from. No cheating.