by: Del_kaidin and Tiranth. Chapter 2 - Getting To Know You
She still couldn't believe that the young pup had actually pulled her over the wall. It had to be the shock of too much turmoil in too short a time. Otherwise her natural instincts would have put a stop to it. She knew the red headed hanyou in front of her had something that, she had long since given up on. The love of a certain Inu Taiyoukai. It made her smile to realize at least in one reality her sire hadn't walked away from his daughter. Her last visit with him flashed into her mind, squelching any hope she might have of this new knowledge softening his resolve. So strong was the memory she didn't realize she was sending this one into her companions mind.
"Why did you bring that hanyou, little brother?" His voice was the same, cold, cruel, heartless yet soft as silk.
"She's your daughter, Sesshoumaru. She does have a name, it's Leena." Inu Yasha spoke softly.
"That hanyou whelp, is none of my concern. It should have been left to die at birth. It is not to enter my home." He turned and walked back into the fortress.
"It's all right Uncle Inu. I'll just wait in the forest with Shippo." She turned and walked away, she allowed nothing to betray her feelings. Sadness, she had finally begun to believe her Uncle that maybe he would accept her. Anger, at allowing herself to have such a foolish dream. Silently she vowed to never allow him to hurt her like that again.
She realized they had stopped and looked to her companion. "What?"
She shook her head, pressing her fingers to her temples, trying to rid her mind of the images the Leena was sending her. She didn't want these memories. They hurt. She didn't understand how she was seeing the silver haired inu's memories. She didn't understand how both Leena and her own mother could be the daughter's of Sesshomaru and both be the only child. Why was Kenji attacking her? Why was Kaoru afraid of her? Neither ningen seemed as though they recognized her at all. Why had her grandsire turned away from this daughter and not her own mother? So many questions and no answers. Her mind was reeling from the thoughts and feelings coming from the woman beside her and from her own confusion. Finally as the memory came to an end, Taka stopped and waited. She wanted to return to Sesshomaru's castle, to the only being left to her but this hanyou had said they needed to talk. Maybe she had answers to her questions. They were far enough away from the Kamiya Dojo to talk in peace. Finally Leena turned to her. "What?" she asked.
Taka shrugged, pushing aside all the sadness, anger and confusion. "You wanted to talk," she said coolly, perching on a nearby boulder. "So talk."
Sensing the pups confusion, Leena sank to the ground. 'Great.' she thought 'Damn pup is going to make me do all the thinking.' She rubbed her temples for a moment gathering the facts and began speaking. "Ok we need to figure out exactly how we got to this... reality, and it has to be different from where we are both from. Your mind tells me you are who you say you are. I think I've shared enough of my memories for you to know I am who I say I am. We both knew Kenshin, Kaoru and Kenji - obviously in different ways. You knew Kenshin as your nephew, I knew him as a umm .... partner. Kaoru is terrified of us both. Kenji wants to attack us both. The only thing that makes since is that we have been pulled into another reality. So, what do we do now?" She looked up at the pup, awaiting her answer.
Taka put her foot against the rock, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand as Leena spoke. What she said made sense. Taka had seen into the others mind and obviously Leena had seen into hers. She knew that Leena's explanation was the only one that worked. Her golden eyes narrowed as she thought. She remembered the strange sensations she had felt in the dojo yard last night. She remembered feeling eyes upon her then the darkness had came. "We find the kuso who brought us here and give him a taste of our claws, but first," she said standing, "I want my grandsire."
"Agreed we find what ever or who ever brought us here. Any ideas who would do such a thing? The only one with enough power to do something like that would be, I guess Naraku, except he's been dead for a long time. Well, at least in my reality. What about yours?" She ignored the other comment. No way was she going to put herself in his path again.
Taka shook her head. "Inu Yasha and Kagome killed him long ago and I killed Byouka before Kenshin was born...so I have no enemies I know of." Realizing Leena had ignored her desire to go see Sesshomaru she pushed again. "Maybe Sesshomaru may know of someone?"
"We are not asking that asshole anything. Do you not realize fool that he may not even exist in this world? Kami-sama can I stay here? Or if he is that he will not have any idea who the fuck you are? I'm not willing to risk my hide, so some pampered little hime can run home to 'Grandsire'." She crossed her arms and glared. "Grow the fuck up! The only ones we can depend on are ourselves. You don't see me begging to look up Uncle Inu do you? How old are you anyway pup?"
Fool? Pampered little hime? Her jaw nearly hit the ground, then she felt the anger rise within her. Taka's back straightened in indignation. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. She felt the snarl rumbling in her chest as she bared her fangs at Leena. "I am NOT a pampered chibihime. I'm sorry if it bothers you that he's all I have left of my family. Uncle Inu died before I was born, one of my brothers I never knew, the other killed right in front of me. I lost my mother bringing vengenece to the one who hurt my family. He's all I have!"
As she spoke however the sensible part of her told her that Leena was right. Who knew what Sesshomaru was like in this time. She was alone here...no she had Leena. She clenched her fists at her sides, forcing herself to be calm. "100," she growled in response to Leena's question, crossing her arms, annoyed that she was in fact acting just as Leena described.
She listened to the tirade, slightly surprised at the sorrow that had touched this pups life. She scratched behind her ear. "Look pup, I'm sorry. I've been a bit harsh and rude. Damn, Momma Sango would have my ass for the way I've acted towards you. At my age I should know better. But I always seem to rush to battle first. Hell, you didn't know Uncle Inu, I'm a lot like him. Fight first ask questions later." She grinned. "Look the two of us are going to have to get along. Our very lives are going to depend on each other. How good are you at illusions? And what the hell is your name? I can't keep calling you pup or hime."
More calm now, Taka uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Forgive me as well...you are right. We have to work together. I've never tried to do an illusion. Grandsire does it all the time but," she shrugged, "I stay away from ningen most of the time. Oh, my name is Taka."
"Ok I'll help you with illusions, really all we need to worry about are your markings, ears and claws. Red hair is uncommon but does occur. If we're going to be walking all over the place on a hunt, I need more than this armor to wear." Pausing she looked at her surroundings. "First things first. Food, water and shelter. Food, well there is plenty so I can hunt in a bit. There should be a stream nearby. That leaves shelter, how do you feel about sleeping in trees?"
She nodded as Leena listed off the things they needed. Hunting was not a problem, she did that all the time anyway. When she mentioned sleeping in trees, Taka let a small smile creep onto her face. "Let's just say that even when I'm in the castle I sleep in the trees. Should we go back to the Dojo tonight and see if there are any clues there?"
Leena chuckled at the tree comment from her companion. "Good, glad you like trees, cause I can't stand the ground. Uncle Inu and I always slept in the highest branch that would support us. As for checking out the Dojo, we need to do it, but Kenji is going to be on guard tonight. Most likely Sano and Yahiko will be there too." She paused scratching her head, standing she crossed her arms and looked at the sky, allowing her mind to wander to find the answer in its own way. Turning her attention back to the girl at her side. "You got any ideas?" As she waited the sun set and she felt the familiar draining of her strength. "Shimatta! It would be a fucking new moon tonight."