By: Lady Tiger LiLy
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha. I own what I own.
Chapter 6: Reunion
"Good-bye!" Junko shouted as she and Rin waved farewell to the village. As they headed off into the forest, she turned to Rin. "Thank you for coming with me, Rin."
"You are my friend. I am glad to." She smiled.
Junko blinked for a second before she smiled warmly at Rin. "Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me…"
"Oh, don't thank me! I'm glad I could tag along, risking my life, to make sure you two don't get into any danger!" Shippo griped.
Junko whispered to Rin. "I don't know what I'd do if it was just him and me!"
Rin giggled softly.
"Do you two have any idea of where you are going?" Shippo asked with irritation.
Junko shrugged. "I just thought we'd travel around until we find Sesshomaru."
"That's a bad idea! We can't just travel around! We have to know where we are going! I will lead the way!" Shippo said as he quickened his pace to get ahead of the girls.
"And how do we know you know where you are going?" Junko asked with her hands on her hips.
Shippo turned back to her as he kept his pace. "Because I am the strongest and I've traveled these lands for years! I know where everything is!"
Just then, Rin noticed something. "Uh, Shippo-?"
"What?"
BONK!
Junko and Rin hovered over poor Shippo as he laid on the ground and groaned. His eyes were swirling and his head pounding with a bump to show for it.
"Are you alright, Shippo-chan?" Rin sweatdropped.
"I bet you didn't know that low branch was there." Junko sighed as she looked down at the pathetic youkai.
"Ow..." He groaned.
The group had traveled for about an hour or so when Shippo stopped. "Let's rest here." He said as he sat under a tree and closed his eyes.
"What! Are you serious! For a big, strong youkai, you sure are lazy!" Junko argued.
"I am not lazy and I do not need to rest. Rin does." He replied without opening his eyes.
Junko looked over at Rin who was sitting on a large rock. "Are you tired, Rin?"
"Yes, just a little." She smiled as she wiped her brow.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Rin! I didn't realize you needed a rest! I guess we have been traveling for a while now."
"I'm fine. What about you? Are you tired?" Rin asked.
Junko sat down next to Rin. "Not really. I run a lot for school so I'm used to the exercise." She smiled. "I love running. Ever since I was a kid I thought about how I would love to be able to run as fast as my dad."
Rin nodded.
"Are we ready to go yet, lazy fox boy?"
Shippo stood without answering and looked out at the land ahead of them.
"Do you not know where we are or something? Answer me!"
Shippo hushed her quickly. Junko stared at him quietly for a moment.
"Do you hear that? … That is what I like to hear, NOT your constant yapping! You're worse than Wolf Youkai!" He snapped.
Junko glared at him. "FINE!" She shouted into his face. "Then I just won't talk to YOU at ALL!" She huffed angrily as she spun around away from him.
Shippo sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
She didn't respond.
Shippo sighed. "Please, Junko! I'm really sorry!"
She stomped her foot and huffed angrily again.
"Fine! Be that way! Let's just get going!" He stomped off.
Rin walked up to Junko. "Why are you so hostile to Shippo-chan? He just wants to be your friend."
"He's an idiot and a jerk!" She said hotly. "He just makes me so mad!"
"You are only looking at the bad things. You should look more at the good." Rin spoke gently. "You could try to speak kinder to him. Even though you speak harshly to him, he still looks out for you."
Junko didn't respond. There was truth in Rin's words and she knew it.
Rin smiled and took Junko's hand. "Come on, before we get left behind."
The night crept upon the three and they made camp and rested. Junko and Rin each had a blanket wrapped around them as they sat around the fire that Shippo took the liberty of starting. They ate the food they had brought with them and went to sleep. Junko and Rin slept near the fire while Shippo stayed up.
Before Junko drifted off, she thought about what Rin said and felt bad for how she treated Shippo. 'He's just trying to protect us… protect me…' Her thoughts trailed off as her mind slipped into slumber.
Junko slept warm and deeply. It wasn't until the next morning when the sunlight hit her face did she begin to wake. It was then when she discovered the source of her warmth. She looked down to find the kitsune boy curled up next to her body, sleeping peacefully. He looked so innocent, like a sleeping child… but not for long.
"OW! OW! OOOW!" Shippo yelled as he ran from Junko who was yelled and repeatedly smacked him over the head with one of her shoes.
"YOU BAKA HENTAI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Junko screeched as she continued to hit him.
Rin sat up and watched the comical act. "Look on the bright side, Shippo." Rin shouted to him. "At least she's talking to you again!"
"Very funny, Rin! OW! JUNKO!"
"We need to head this way." Shippo announced as they continued to travel.
"Are you leading us somewhere in particular, Shippo-chan?" Rin asked.
"You'll see." Was his response.
"We're probably lost and he just doesn't want to admit he doesn't know where we are…" Junko grumbled.
"You were the one who wanted to just travel without any idea of where to travel too! And besides, I do know where we are and where we are going!"
"That's what all men think." She spoke, more to herself as she rolled her eyes.
An hour or so later, Shippo announced their arrival. "Here we are!" He smiled.
Junko and Rin found themselves at what appeared to be a village but there were no people to be seen. The two girls followed Shippo as he entered the village. As they did so, something ran out from behind a house and charged at the group. Junko and Rin were startled when the something had tackled Shippo.
"Shippo!" Rin shouted.
Shippo looked up to see a person in a mask sitting above him.
The person held a chain and blade over Shippo's chest. "DIE DEMON!" The voice from behind the mask spoke aloud.
"Shippo!" Junko shouted with the most fearful look on her face.
The person held the chain and blade up, ready to strike.
"IT'S ME! IT'S ME!" Shippo shouted as he grabbed the person by their wrist.
The person blinked. "Huh? OH! SHIPPO!" The person rejoiced. "Sorry! I guess I didn't recognize you. You got a lot handsomer since the last time I saw you!" The person winked.
Shippo grimaced. "Could you get off me, please?" He sighed.
The person quickly did so. "So what are you doing here? Who are they? Friends of yours?"
"Oh, this is Rin and Junko." Shippo introduced.
The person removed her mask. "Hi! I'm Kohana!" She smiled.
Rin and Junko blinked.
"Um, hi." Said Junko, not sure how things went from Shippo being attacked to being introduced to the former executer who was apparently a friend of his.
"Hello." Said Rin with the same confusion.
"Well, what are we standing around here for! You must be hungry and tired if you've come all the way from Kaede's village! Come with me!" She passed by Shippo as she led the way. As she passed him, however, she slyly patted him on his rear. He had jumped in surprise and then sighed as he followed her.
Junko and Rin caught the moment and were a bit taken back by the girl's actions. Junko thought it was most disgusting.
The group followed Kohana through the village. It looked vacant. There were several homes that were either torn down or were being repaired. There was one house that looked just fine and that was the one Kohana took them to.
"Everyone will be so happy to see you, Shippo!" She clapped happily. "Papa!" She called into the house.
A moment later, a man with dark hair and dark colored robes stepped outside. "What is it, Kohana?" He asked in a gentle voice.
"Look who has come to visit!" She replied as she pointed to the kitsune youkai.
"Ah! Shippo! How good it is to see you!" He greeted with a friendly smile. He then slipped on his sandals and walked down the stoop of the house and approached Shippo.
Shippo smiled and bowed his head in respect.
"Enough with the formalities!" He chuckled. He hugged Shippo and patted him on the back. "Who are your companions?"
"This is Rin." Shippo said.
"Ah! She has grown up quite a bit since I last saw her! It is wonderful to see you again, Rin."
"We've met before?" She puzzled.
"Yes, when you were quite young." He replied. Suddenly, he caught eye of Junko. He stood before her with a thoughtful look on his face. "Now, you seem familiar…. It's not like me to forget a face, especially one as pretty as yours." He smiled charmingly.
Junko blushed with embarrassment. She was not used to receiving such complements from men. She then noticed his gaze drifting slightly south. Her blush of embarrassment was now turning into a blush of anger. Now, Junko was respectful to her elders… well, maybe her mother was the exception since she argues with her a lot, but Junko had to try hard not to yelling at the man about how that was not her face.
She then felt him clasp her hands in his. "My, if I wasn't tied down, I'd run away with you in a second." He smiled that charming smile again.
Junko blushed from his actions and found what he said to be most terrible. Did he not love his wife?
He then seemed to finally recognize her. "Ah! Now I remember! It is you, Kagome! Now how could I forget you! Wow, you haven't aged a bit!"
Junko was surprised to find another person who knew her mother. But before she could correct him, he pulled her to him in a friendly embrace. Just when Junko thought her face couldn't get any redder, she felt something on her rear that she knew was the last straw.
SMACK!
The man lay on the ground with a red handprint on his face and his eyes swirling as he groaned.
"Hentai!" She shouted as she clenched her fists in rage.
The man sat up and held his red cheek. He looked up at her. Junko found it odd that he was smiling. He seemed most amused. "I can't forget a slap like that either! Boy, does that bring back memories!"
"I can't believe someone like you knew my mother!" Junko huffed in disgust as she looked down at him in a dignified manner.
Miroku was now confused. "Huh?"
"She's not Kagome." Shippo informed.
"Oh, then she's-?"
"What on earth was that! Kohana?" A woman interrupted as she came out from behind the house. She had long dark brown hair and was dressed in her battle clothes. "Kohana? Where have you been? You are supposed to be-" The woman stopped talking and looked upon the group of people standing outside the house. She then noted the man getting up from the ground. She quickly noted the handprint still imbedded in his cheek.
SMACK! BAM!
The man now laid on the ground with another handprint on the other cheek and a huge bump on his head.
The woman hung her huge boomerang back over her shoulder. "Miroku! How dare you harass these poor girls!"
"You got it all wrong, Sango, my love! I thought this girl was-"
"I don't know how I've put up with you for as long as I have! When will you ever-!" She stopped when she noticed the people standing there.
"Shippo!" She greeted happily. She stepped on Miroku as she walked over to the kitsune. "Shippo-chan, it's good to see you! Welcome home!"
"Thank you, Sango. You remember Rin?" He said as he gestured to the girl.
"Ah, yes, Rin! My, you've grown!"
Rin smiled and blushed as she bowed politely.
Sango then turned to Junko and just looked at her for a moment before speaking. "…Kagome?"
Junko shook her head. "No."
"That is what I was trying to say. I was mistaken." Miroku spoke to Sango as he finally managed to get up off the ground with as much dignity as he could. "When I thought it was our dear friend, Kagome, I became overjoyed and could not contain my enthusiasm."
Sango glared at him. "You are unbelievable! Why would you do that to Kagome!"
"It was only for old time sake!" Miroku defended. "You know that you are the only woman I have eyes for! And you still are. You always will be, my dear Sango."
A small blush graced Sango's face. His sweet words seemed to have affected her, though she would not let him know that for she was still displeased with his actions. She then turned back to Junko. "So who are you then?"
"I am Junko. Kagome is my mother."
Sango nodded. "I see." She smiled. "Is Kagome here too?"
"No." Shippo replied. "It's a long story."
Sango nodded in response. "Well, you are all welcome to stay here as long as you like."
Junko looked wary as her eyes wondered over to Miroku.
Sango saw this. "Don't you worry about him! He's harmless! He should behave himself now, and if he doesn't, you just let him have it!" Said Sango.
Junko smiled. She liked Sango.
I bet you were all wondering if Miroku and Sango were going to make an appearance! Don't get Miroku wrong! He doesn't grope every pretty woman he meets anymore, but he is still a shameless flirt! I don't think he will ever change his lecherous ways completely! Old habits are hard to brake! Teeheehee! Kohana is about fourteen years old. More to come!
Lady Tiger LiLy