Believe it or not…I already have an idea for a sequel! OO Plus seven other story ideas….I'm telling you…^ ^ ;;; personally, I think I ooze creativity…which can be good or bad….once this one is done, I can start three more! ^_^ I'm asking for trouble of course…this is probably the longest story I have so far….
"Families are like brownies; sweet with a few nuts."
Chapter 30: Sashimi Hasn't Changed
Kohaku sat on a rock under Kikase. She was playing her flute, summoning a strong demon. He listened to the long low notes that echoed through the trees and over the hills. He yawned sleepily and rested his cheek on the palm of his hand, staring out into the space in front of him. From what he could see was a grassy knoll connecting into the forest of turquoise, and deep blue shades of the night. A cricket chirped nearby and jumped past him. A bullfrog puffed out its throat making a deep croaing sound, then shot out it's tongue and caught the cricket. He heard a loud crunch from inside the bullfrog's mouth before it hopped away.
Kohaku ran his fingers through his hair and looked into the forest through half lidded eyes. There was a brief flash of light between two trees. Kohaku's eyes widened a bit becoming aware of something out there. Lifting his head from his hand he stared at the spot the light came from to see if it would happen again. He didn't blink, in case he would miss it. Sure enough, there was another flash.
Kohaku looked over his shoulder at Kikase, who was busy concentrating on the magic of the notes being played. She wouldn't notice if he slipped out for a second to check what it was. He slowly got up, keeping a hand on his chained blade and walked cautiously into the woods.
As soon as he could no longer see where Kikase was, another light flashed in a differenet direction of the forest. He went in that direction till he got to a small muddy opening in the forest where a circle opening in the treetops gave a view of the moon and gave the opening a natural spotlight. Also standing in the clearing was a woman, whom at first, Kohaku thought was an apparition. She was dressed in white rob looking very beautiful and pure.
Kohaku took a step toward her and asked, "Are you an angel?"
She smiled at him. "No. My name is Sashimi of the Starlight. I would like you to come with me." She said, holding out her white hand to him. She watched him until he asked, "What for?"
"I would like to take you to your family." She said.
Kohaku's heart jumped into his throat. "My family? But…my parents are d-d-"
"Not that family," Sashimi interrupted. "Your other family."
Kohaku didn't know he had another family. Though he remembered Kikase telling him that he was family with Kagura and Naraku and his other minions. "I don't know if they are my real family." He answered looking away.
"I'll bring you to her." Sashimi said.
The first person who came to Kohaku's mind when she mentioned "her" was Sango. Just as if she had read his mind, Sashimi stated, "She's your sister Kohaku, and she's worried about you. Would you like to go to her?"
Her smile was pleasant and honest, and she continued to hold her hand out to him. Kohaku reached his hand out hesitantly and placed it in hers. Her skin was very soft as if she where a princess. And she was warm too, like the sun on a bright spring day.
She nodded to him and said, "Let's go!" ^_^
-
"Sumiko!" Kagome came over to her and pulled the girl's thumb out of her mouth. Sumiko looked up at her deprived. Kagome waved her finger, "Thumb sucking can lead to buck teeth, and there are all of there tape worm reminents under your nails, it's really disgusting."
Sumiko looked like a sad puppydog. "Sorry, Mommy."
All of a sudden, Shio came over and grabbed Sumiko's arm. She looked up at him and he said. "It's okay, Sumiko, suck your thumb all you want."
She smiled and pludged said body part into her mouth.
"Shio!" Kagome cried.
"Shio nothing! She's my sister, as well as my responsibility!" Shio said. "If she wants buck teeth, let her have buck teeth! It might even make her cuter."
Sumiko's eyes widened, she looked down at her thumb then back at Shio. "What's buck teeth?"
"It's when your two front teeth get really long." Shio said putting an emphasis on 'really'. "It makes you talk funny, and it kind of makes you look like a rabbit."
Sumiko blinked, horrified and looked at her thumb. She then dropped her hand at her side quickly and said, "Sumiko stop!"
Kagome looked up at Shio amazed at his logic. He smiled and went to go sit down with Inu Yasha. "I bet I would make a pretty good father." Shio gave him a somewhat silly smile and leaned back with his hands behind his head.
Inu Yasha rolled his eyes before Kagome came and sat next to him, leaning against him. His eyes widened in shock and he looked down at her happy and relaxed features. He blushed a little bit. He already knew he had no need to be embarrassed about something simple like her touching him, but it pleased him enough to make the color rise in his cheeks a bit.
Sango smiled at the cute couple then felt an arm snake around her waist. Miroku leaned in from the side and whispered, "Getting any ideas, Sango?"
WHACK!
Shippou sweatdropped. Hopefully for his sake, the fic will no longer trail into the R rated regions. She shivered at the giraffes dream he had and began rocking back and forth.
The campfire roared and crackled in the night.
"How long are you going to look like that Shio?" Inu Yasha asked. "You look like Sesshomaru, and it's getting on my nerves."
"The spell won't wear off till the sun comes up." Shio said. "And as you can see by the position of the moon, the time of the season, and the color of the sky, we still have at least four hours before daybreak."
"Oh." Inu Yasha said and blinked cutely.
The fire began to grow higher and brighter.
"Dude, how many of those magic log things did Kagome use?" Shio asked looking at the fire.
The fire roared six feet high turning bright white.
"Get away from it!" Miroku shouted and everyone ran away from the fire screaming.
POW!
The campfire exploded and the forest went dark.
"What happened?" Shippou asked.
"Sumiko scared!" Sumiko cried.
All of a sudden they heard a girl moan and say, "The landing didn't come out right on that one, did it?"
"Who's there?" Sango asked.
Shippou suddenly created foxfire in his hand and held it up for everyone to see.
Inu Yasha and Shio saw who it was and screamed.
Sashimi was pulling herself up out of the ashes of the wood pile, with her robes white and untainted by the dirt. She helped Kohaku to his feet.
"Kohaku??" Sango gasped.
"Oh and," Sashimi pulled something small out of the lining of her kimono and held it up. The shikon shard twinkled in the foxfire light. "I found this lodged in young Kohaku here's back. Is it important for something?"
"A shikon shard!" Kagome came forward followed by Sango.
"But, if the shard is removed – how can he still be alive?" Sango asked looking over Kohaku whom looked very much alive.
"Well, when I took the shard out I filled the hole with light because it started gushing blood. But otherwise, we're all fine and safe, right?" Sashimi smiled at them.
GLOMP!
"Thank you so much!" Sango hugged Sashimi.
"No trouble at all." Sashimi smiled at her.
Sango let go of her still smiling with tears lining her eyes and hugged Kohaku.
Kagome sighed happily. "Another brother and sister happily reunited." ^_^
Sashimi heard Kagome's comment and turned to smile at her. "Hi there!" ^_^
"Hi!" ^_^ Kagome smiled back.
"Did you get the vision I sent you?" Sashimi asked excitedly.
"You sent me that vision?" Kagome asked surprised.
"Yeah! It was a snap." Sashimi said. "Plus I figured you would be a better person at saving my brother and sister then Miss Kikyo….she was a bit worn out herself. By the way, where is she?"
Kagome suddenly realized they had forgotten all about Kikyo! Oo
Right on que, Kikyo came limping into camp using her long bow as a crutch, still messed up looking.
Sashimi walked over and grabbed Kikyo's wrist, the cuts in her skin and clothes healed and the blood stains vanished. Kikyo stood up and looked at Sashimi expressionlessly. "Who are you?" Kikyo asked.
Sashimi struck a cute pose. "Sashimi of the star! I'm a goddess and I just healed you!" ^__^V
Kikyo stared at her for a few seconds then walked past her without so much as a thank you. Sashimi watched her confused until Shio came over to her with Sumiko clinging to his back, her arms hanging over his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist, acting like a papoose.
Sashimi turned to them, "And there they are!" ^_^ She hugged them both while Sumiko was still on Shio's back.
Shio looked up at her like he was holding himself back from creating another emotional scene. "Sashimi," he said to release emotional energy.
Sashimi gave a Goku-confident smile and said, "Well aren't you handsome all grown up and everything! It looks like you've used mom's elixir of the full moon spell also!" ^_^ she reached out and grabbed one of his elflike ears.
He laughed and a light pink color spread over his cheeks.
Sashimi laughed again giving him a large smile. "Hmmm….now how could a boy as handsome as you not have a mate by now?"
Shio's laughter faded out but he kept smiling and sweatdropped nervously.
Sashimi gave him a chilling grin that made the hair on the back of Inu Yasha's neck prick. "Shio-kun," Sashimi said eerily. "Let's just say a little evil birdy told me, that you've hit many a "home runs" with numerous women if you understand the expression."
Shio: ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Sashimi: *eerie smile*
Inu Yasha: *shudders and hides behind Kagome*
- - ///////"Well Shio? Have you a way to explain yourself?" Sashimi asked in a tone that said that she was about to go from Florence Nightingale to Bloody Mary.
Shio laughed even more nervously. Sumiko who was still sitting on his back looked confused. Shio held his hands up, "Well Sashimi, I-I-" ;;;;;;;;
"Shio?" Sashimi said in a deadly sweet voice.
"Yes?" ;;;;;;
"I would like you to do me a eensy weensy favor, sweet little brother." She made him shiver in fear. "For the sake of myself, your younger sister's innocence, and most importantly for your own life, why don't you start looking for a real mate for a while?"
Shio laughed nervously and nodded so as not to provoke her, but he felt like he was in a freezer and Sashimi's gaze was turning him into a rather handsome ice sculpture.
Sumiko blinked innocently.
"Ah, Miss Sashimi?" Miroku came over and she spun around to face him. "May I ask you a question?"
Sango groaned, already imagining what Sashimi would think of his child bearing question.
"Please, if you could tell me," he held her hands up and said, "When Shio was doing his mating call, why was Sumiko unaffected?"
Everyone but Shio, Sumiko, and Sashimi blinked in amazement that he didn't give his famous quote.
"Well there's an easy question!" Sashimi smiled and turned to look at her brother, "Shio! Do you believe in incest?"
"Huh? No!" he said.
"There you go!" Sashimi said. "If he doesn't believe in incest, then the mating call wouldn't work on Sumiko, would it?"
"But wait a minute!" Miroku sweatdropped. "If it only works on what he wants or believes in, then how come guys were answering to the mating-?!"
"Next question! I am on a roll!" Sashimi shouted raising her hands in the air triumphantly. Then she pointed a finger at Inu Yasha with her arms still in the air. "You're turn, Inu boy!"
He cleared his throat and thought for a few moments. "Oh! Why is Shio collecting Shikon shards, and also I have a question about-"
"One at a time, hun." Sashimi said walking over to him. She grabbed his hands and raised them away from him so she could look him over better. She smiled, "Very nice! ^_^ You've filled out well, Inu Yasha!"
Inu Yasha looked away embarrassed.
"No I'm serious!" Sashimi commented. She looked over at where Kagome and Sango where. "Can you believe that just fifty or so years ago, this guy was just a scrawny little kid?" ^_^ she grabbed Inu Yasha's ear.
"Aw, come on, Sashimi, don't even go there!" Shio sweatdropped.
"And why not?" Sashimi put him in a headlock with her other arm. "I'm your older sister!" she looked at Inu Yasha, "And I'm your training teacher! If it weren't for me, you couldn't "sankon tessou" anyone!"
"So you're their training teacher?" Sango asked interestedly.
"Yep, and I know more about them then anyone else!" Sashimi rubbed her cheek against the top of Shio's head. He was turning blue from lack of oxygen.
"I know that when Shio was a just a wee little kit," Sashimi's eyes became large and misty, "he used to put on my dresses and pretend to be me! It was so cute!" ^____^
Inu Yasha howled with laughter, "WAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAA!!!"
Shio looked freaked out, "No I didn't!! She's lying!!"
"No, it's true!" Sashimi said, giving Inu Yasha a noggie to make him stop laughing. "And Inu Yasha first came to me for training when he was thirteen, oh he was so cute then! ^_^ I mean he's cute now but he had the sweet little baby face then!!"
"Aww!" Kagome and Sango said. ^__^
Inu Yasha's whole face turned red and he looked like he was going to die.
"Even at that age, he cried in his sleep calling for his mommy.." T_T Sashimi said looking very sympathetic.
Inu Yasha growled angry and embarrassed, but Sashimi didn't seem to notice.
"And with them I know everything…the way they thought, the way they acted, I've even seen them naked on numorous occasions."
Inu Yasha and Shio suddenly froze in their struggle and went pale white.
"Aw, crap." Miroku said turning away. Knowing what was coming already and wanted to not hear a single word of it.
"Well it's a little known fact," Sashimi whispered loudly. "That Inu Yasha's thing is bigger then Shio's."
Inu Yasha: O O
Shio: O O
Everyone else: O O
Sashimi looked upward ponderously. "Inu Yasha did start puberty first, though Shio obviously now uses his more-"
"SASHIMI!!" Shio screamed pulling out of Sashimi's chock hold and started wringing her neck. "THAT'S MY MOST WELL KEPT SECRET, SASHIMI!! AND YOU JUST BLABBED IT TO THE WORLD THAT INU YASHA'S NELSON IS BIGGER!!! WHY MUST YOU COME BACK TO MAKE ME SUFFER!!!???"
"What's a nelson?" Shippou and Sashimi asked.
"I didn't come for that, Silly Shio!" she said putting her hand against his face and pushed him away while smiling. "I'll tell you why I'm here after I answer Inu Yasha's question first."
She went over to Shio, "Let's see. Why did you start collecting shikon shards Shio?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "I just remember it was for something important."
"Hmmmm…" Sashimi examined him before glomping him in a hard bear hug.
"GAH!" Shio's eyes bulged but they were still beautiful. He made a loud chocking sound.
"I'm going to look inside your memory and show the answer to everyone, okay?" she asked. Shio gasped and gagged.
"I'll take that as an 'okay.'" She said and hugged him harder closing her eyes.
Shitai turned around and covered her eyes.
"I can't look. Tell me what happens."
Inu Yasha pulled a camera out of her kimono and took a picture.
"Where did you get that??" Kagome asked.
"From your pack." Inu Yasha answered plainly.
Kagome snatched it from him. "Quit going through my stuff without asking!"
"I was going to put it back!" he shouted.
"Found it!" ^_^ Sashimi smiled. "Everyone close your eyes and you'll see it."
Everyone closed their eyes like she said.
They saw a steep hill with a beaten dirt path going along the edge of it. A beautiful man who was obviously an enchanter walked leaning forward as people usually do when going up a steep hill such as this one.
"Who's idea was it to go this way?" An enchanter woman came from right behind him asked.
"How should I know?" he answered back in a deep sexy voice.
Behind her, a short kitsune teenager laughed and said, "Wow, are you two out of shape."
A prostitute woman who was walking behind him said, "Well I feel like I'm going to die. It's way to hot out here."
And walking up that path behind her, Shio was walking and watching the prostitute's shiney black, curly hair bounce around on her shoulders. He reached out to pull a string and she squeaked and batted his hand away.
"What??" Shio held his hand looking confused and hurt, "I just wanted to touch it!"
She gave him a reproachful look, "Step off, child. When you become rich, then you can go around touching women's hair or whatever without getting slapped."
Shio nodded sadly, caressing his hand. Heand continued to follow the group. "But you're a prostitute, what does it matter?" he asked.
"It matters because only paying customers are welcome to touch my hair!" she snapped.
Shio sighed unhappily. Then a little human girl, the last member of the group and dressed as a hunter, ran up next to Shio. "Shio-sama, can you tell me a story?" she asked.
He smiled at her for a few seconds before asking, "Well, how about the story of Inu Yasha?"
"Oooh! I love that one!" the little girl jumped excitedly.
He told her about how he met Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru, the fact that Inu Yasha cared about his sister and that Sesshomaru also fancied her, and that one day when they had a fight for her, a demon came and his sister sacrificed herself to save them. Then he told her about how after that, him and Inu Yasha always visited each other, going to parties and talking and making mischief.
The little girl sighed, "Sounds like fun, it does."
"It was," Shio said. "We were thick as thieves then." Then he sighed as she did, only his was somewhat sad. "But one day, he met some woman or something...and…." he looked at the innocent expression on the little girl's face, gave her a forced smile and lied, "And they lived happily ever after together!"
"Yay!" she cheered. "I love that story more every time I hear it!" ^_^
Shio's smile dropped and he turned to face the line again. In truth, he didn't really know what happened. He just remembered Inu Yasha telling him that he had found his soulmate, the one that matched Sashimi's prophecy, "The one in his future with the shikon shard." And after that, he never saw him again…for fifty years...
All of a sudden there was a burst of light in the sky. Shio turned his head quickly and looked up at it. Small beams of light shot out of the big light and flew in all different directions all over Japan.
"Whoa!" The enchanter in the beginning gasped looking up at it.
"It's so pretty!" The little girl exclaimed.
Then one of the beams of light flew in their direction.
"Duck!!" The other kitsune shouted. Everyone threw themselves on the ground and the beam of light hit the ground in front of Shio's face. He blinked and his vision focused on a piece of broken glass. "What's this?" he asked, picking it up.
The little girl got up and saw a large fallen tree branch along side of the dirt road, picked it up and started swinging it in the air to listen to the cool whoosh sound it made. ^___^
"Wait! I do know what this is!!" Shio said excitedly. "It's a piece of the shikon jewel Inu Yasha told me about!!" (AN: Funny….he can remember the shikon jewel after fifty years, yet he can't remember Kikyo after a few days….)
"What's the shikon jewel?" the prostitute asked.
Shio held it up to the light. "They say it grants wishes to whoever has them!....At least, that's what Inu Yasha said…." Shio smiled at jewel shard suddenly getting an idea. I know what I can do! If Inu Yasha is really dead like everyone says so, then I can find the rest of these shards and bring him back to life! It's perfect! I'm going to see my best buddy again! This is the greatest day of my-!
WHACK!
The little girl accidentally whacked Shio in the back of the head giving him swirly eyes and the vision went dark.
Everyone in reality opened their eyes and sweatdropped.
"Oh yeah, that's why I can't remember anything that happened that day." Shio said rubbing the back of his head. ;;;;;;
Sashimi let go of Shio and went up to Inu Yasha making him jump in shock. "Soooo, you said you have another thing to ask me?" she said putting her hands together under her chin.
Inu Yasha sweatdropped looking for a way to ask. "W-well, remember that prophecy …that my soul mate is the girl in my future with a shikon shard?"
"Mmmmmhmmmm!" Sashimi grinned. ^___________^***
Kikyo and Kagome stared at them.
"Well," Inu yasha looked down, wondering if he wanted to hear the answer or not. "I guess….I was wondering if…."
"Oh, you're taking too long!!" Sashimi shouted suddenly, causing everyone to look at her. "You want to know if Kikyo is it, right???" she asked pointing at said priestess.
"Um," Inu Yasha sweardropped.
Sashimi went over and looked Kikyo in the eyes determinedly. Kikyo stared back emotionlessly. Then Sashimi tsked and said, "Hardly," she walked away from Kikyo and toward Inu Yasha.
He sweatdropped and asked, "What do you mean, hardly?"
"I mean, Inu Yasha," she said, using his shoulder as an elbow rest, "It's hard for someone to give life to children, when they have no life at all. If you want a mate, at least get one that will give you pups and actually cares about you."
"Kikyo cares about me!" Inu Yasha shouted suddenly.
Sashimi shook her head calmly. "Uh-uh."
"Well then who do you mean then? Who else in my future has the shikon jewel??" he shouted.
Sashimi sighed then noticed Kagome. She saw the way she looked compared to Kikyo and sensed the abundance of light inside of her. Sashimi smiled and walked over to her. Kagome watched her, wondering what she wanted. Sashimi looked her over and said, "You're interesting. What's your name, child?"
"My name?" Kagome asked. "Well, my name is Kagome, Higurushi Kagome."
"Hmmm…." Sashimi thought for a second before holding out her arms, "Hug please!" ^_^
Kagome looked at her hesitantly before opening her arms and getting glomped into a bear hug. It wasn't as strong as Shio's, but it was pretty tight. After a few moments, Sashimi backed away and smiled at her, the light in her eyes brighter then before. "Ah, so you're not from this time!"
Kagome looked at her shocked. "How did you know that??"
Sashimi smiled coolly tapping the star on her forehead, "I have my ways." Then she looked over her shoulder to give Inu Yasha a sly smile. "You know, Inu Yasha, I never said that your soul mate was from your future. I specifically said "in the future" if you were paying attention."
Inu Yasha looked taken aback.
"Hmmm…let's see…" Sashimi said. "Kagome is from the future, the shikon jewel came out of her, she cares about you, and is fertile." She winked at him. "Gee, sooooo many connections…"
Boom
"What was that?" Sango asked looking around.
Inu Yasha, Shio, Sashimi, and Sumiko's ears twitched in different directions trying to find where it was.
Boom
"Whatever it is, that one sounded closer." Inu Yasha said.
Shippou jumped into Kagome's arms and they hugged each other looking around nervously.
BOOM
"Over there!" Inu Yasha pointed over at where Sumiko was standing facing all of them with her back to the woods. She blinked a little bit confused. Suddenly, a giant clawed hand reached out of the forest and grabbed her around the waist. She screamed as it started lifting her into the air.
Inu Yasha gasped and his mind flashed back to the day his mother died and the demon that picked her up and snapped her like a twig. "Sumiko!"
Sumiko burst into terrified tears.
Shio jumped up a tree without another thought and grabbed Sumiko's hand as she was being pulled away by the monster. The monster, standing high over the tree tops, tried to pull Sumiko away from Shio who had one hand grabbing Sumiko's and the other hand holding onto the top of the tree.
Sumiko held onto his hand for dear life, "Kitty, help!" she cried.
Shio groaned. He was usuing all of his dog demon strength just to hold her and the tree at the same time. "Just hold on Sumiko!" he shouted.
Then from the west, the sun started to rise.
Shio saw the hair in his face start to fade into red. Oh no! he looked toward the rising sun then back up at Sumiko horrified. Her eyes became emerald like his once more. The spell is fading! I'm about to lose half of my strength! I'll be ripped in half!!
**********************************************************
^ ^;;;; hehe…I'm guessing my friends that I used to talk to over IM hate me now or something. They haven't read any of my stories in a while…I guess they are used to me telling them I update….now I'm all sad and stuff….V V