~~~ Chapter 4 – The story of the Spirit Hunter ~~~
*Yawn* Sango sat up alerting her senses to the sound of someone fighting (even though it was like 11:00 at night). She got a drink and then went outside with her Hiraikotsu ready for an attack (You can never be too careful). Once Sango got outside she rubbed her eyes and looked around. Nothing. Then someone almost sliced her in half! Sango quickly jumped back and was going to make an attack when she heard a familiar voice, "Sango it's OK, it's me" the female voice said. Sango recognized it the moment, it was Kihana. She put away her weapon and Kihana did the same with her sword (even though Kihana stayed in the darkness so that Sango wouldn't see her as a demon). "I'm sorry if I frightened you. Did I hurt you?" she asked. "No" Sango answered "Why are you out here, and why are you in the shadows over there?" Sango questioned. "Oh, I couldn't sleep so I came out here to train, and forget about it" Kihana answered, "Well just keep it down and don't be a bat forever OK?" Sango said. "OK" Kihana replied, "I'll keep it down and don't wake anyone up OK?" she asked, "Yeah of course, goodnight" Sango said as she walked back into her room.
*Sigh* "That was close" Kihana said to herself as she walked out from the trees' protective shadows. 'I hope they don't find out I'm a demon' she thought frowning at the thought of being all alone when she could only remember bits and pieces of who she was. 'I don't know what I would do if they did' she thought again, remembering that she only knew how to summon her powers because of her flashbacks to when she was taught. *Yawn* Kihana walked away from the hut and into the forest, where she came upon a large clearing near the sacred tree. She untied her sash and slipped her kimono out a large clearing with a waterfall and a spring sash, slipped her kimono off of her shoulders, and then she slowly slid into the hot spring. "Ahhhh... This is what I needed, a nice hot bath" she said swimming over to the waterfall that poured into the springs. Surprisingly, when Kihana swam under the waterfall the water pouring down from it was as warm as the hot spring itself.
As Kihana bathed she looked around the clearing sensing she had been here before. She continued to examine her surroundings with a questioning expression. Then, Kihana heard a rustling in the trees and bushes. She prepared herself for a battle, but then Lady Kaede walked out from the forest. Kihana relaxed once again, "Lady Kaede, you frightened me" she said with a smile on her face, then she realized that she was a demon now. Kihana desperately tried to hide herself from the wise priestess, but failed. "Child, why do you hide yourself? The fact that you are demon or human does not matter to me " the old priestess replied. "OK" Kihana said giving a deep sigh. "Child, why do you come here to bathe instead of our bathhouse?" Kaede questioned as she sat down on a rock next to the spring. "Well, I honestly don't know, I guess something just told me to come here" Kihana answered. "I see. My dear, tell me, does this place seem familiar to you?" the priestess asked again. "Yes, it does. I feel as though I know this place all too well. Like I've been here for years. Also, that tree over there is somewhat familiar as well" Kihana said as she pointed to Inuyasha's tree, she continued, "It's like I lived here... Why do you ask?" "No reason, child. Just come back so you can rest" Kaede said getting up from the rock on which she sat, "Goodnight child." "Goodnight, sleep well Kaede" Kihana said as she watched her friend part for the village.
Inuyasha watched as the old priestess walked out from the forest. He raised a brow and walked over curiously to see where the old lady had been. He followed the priestess into her hut and sat down when she indicated him to do so. "So old woman, what were you doing out in the woods?" Inuyasha questioned. "Inuyasha, must you always be so curious? I am beginning to wonder if you really are a dog demon and not a cat demon. But, to answer your question, I was seeing if your friend Kihana was alright" Kaede solemnly answered as she put her arrows in their proper place. Inuyasha growled agitatedly at the woman's remark, but then settled down to ask yet another question. "So, what'd ya find out?" he asked, "Well, I think she... never mind" Kaede replied. "Go get Kagome and the others, you shall all need to hear this story" She added.
The group gathered as Kaede built the fire up and began her story... "Just years after Kikyo's death a monk and his apprentice came to cleanse the sacred tree. When the two monks got to the tree the master saw a glitter through the trees and told his apprentice to keep chanting the prayer while he checked it out. The man came across a beautiful clearing with an abundance of wildflowers and a hot spring with a waterfall sitting at the bottom of a cliff. The man, being who he was, checked for other people, then he removed his garments and walked into the hot spring. While the man was there the apprentice walked over to spy on his teacher, so that he would be able to blame his teacher for leaving him. Then, a woman appeared standing a few yards away from the edge of the water. She had shimmering raven-black hair and ocean blue eyes and was wearing only a silk cloth over her body. The man looked her over and then invited her in the spring with him. She smiled and walked toward the man, then removed her silk garment as she got into the spring. The apprentice described the woman as extremely beautiful for her young age. Then, the woman allowed the man to be sexual with her then she stopped him. The stranger smiled an almost evil smile and an arrow shot through the man's chest. In fact, it shot right through where a person's soul is to be. The man's blood quickly stained the spring as the woman left the pool and put her garment back on. She then raised one arm and a soul arose from the monk's body. The woman absorbed the soul into her body and then frowned with displeasure as she left." "We found many men afterwards like this. They were found naked in the springs with their chest's pierced with an arrow and the souls taken from them. Some men even kindly gave her the name the Spirit Hunter" Kaede finished. Everyone looked at the ground except for Inuyasha, "How do you know that is what exactly happened?" the hanyou asked. "The monk's apprentice came running to our village and explained what had happened" she answered. "We'll do you know who did this?" Sango asked, "Well, the next day, some villagers and I went to the spot. As the rest searched for anything in the forest around the clearing, I stayed inside the clearing to examine it. While I was there a flash of light appeared beside the spring, I went to see what it was. I found a woman there that exactly fit the monk's description, and she was young like the monk had said, maybe in her early teenage years. She was frozen in an ice crystal, but the strange thing was that the ice was surrounded by a blazing silver fire, and the girl had an essence of Kikyo about her" Kaede explained. "Creepy" Shippo said shaking by Kagome's side. "You're telling me" Kagome replied, "Anyway, goodnight everyone." Kagome said as she left Kaede's hut with Shippo. "Yeah I better be leaving also" Sango said, "Goodnight." "Yes, I should be going as well, goodnight Lady Kaede" Miroku said as he, Sango and Kirara left the hut.
Inuyasha left without saying goodnight to Kaede and wandered into the forest. 'I wonder who that girl was' he thought as he made his way to the sacred tree. He looked around for anyone and heard a splashing noise next to the tree. 'That must be were the clearing is' he thought approaching the trees and looking through them. Then he walked through, keeping close to the trees. 'There's nothing eerie about...' but Inuyasha's thoughts were interrupted as his eyes were attracted to something standing by the spring. As he looked on at the figure before him he examined the figure over as well. Well, the person was a woman for sure, and she definitely just got out of the hot spring (considering that she was naked and drying her hair with a towel) ; her hair was a beautiful dark ocean blue and sea green color. He couldn't see her eyes because her back was to him and her skin was slightly tan, but not so that she looked like she was from a beach. Inuyasha saw her as somewhat familiar, but until he saw her face or heard her voice he couldn't tell who it was.
Please read and review! I want to know if you liked it so far. Do you think the whole Spirit Hunter story was a little too detailed, or should I leave it like it is?
*Yawn* Sango sat up alerting her senses to the sound of someone fighting (even though it was like 11:00 at night). She got a drink and then went outside with her Hiraikotsu ready for an attack (You can never be too careful). Once Sango got outside she rubbed her eyes and looked around. Nothing. Then someone almost sliced her in half! Sango quickly jumped back and was going to make an attack when she heard a familiar voice, "Sango it's OK, it's me" the female voice said. Sango recognized it the moment, it was Kihana. She put away her weapon and Kihana did the same with her sword (even though Kihana stayed in the darkness so that Sango wouldn't see her as a demon). "I'm sorry if I frightened you. Did I hurt you?" she asked. "No" Sango answered "Why are you out here, and why are you in the shadows over there?" Sango questioned. "Oh, I couldn't sleep so I came out here to train, and forget about it" Kihana answered, "Well just keep it down and don't be a bat forever OK?" Sango said. "OK" Kihana replied, "I'll keep it down and don't wake anyone up OK?" she asked, "Yeah of course, goodnight" Sango said as she walked back into her room.
*Sigh* "That was close" Kihana said to herself as she walked out from the trees' protective shadows. 'I hope they don't find out I'm a demon' she thought frowning at the thought of being all alone when she could only remember bits and pieces of who she was. 'I don't know what I would do if they did' she thought again, remembering that she only knew how to summon her powers because of her flashbacks to when she was taught. *Yawn* Kihana walked away from the hut and into the forest, where she came upon a large clearing near the sacred tree. She untied her sash and slipped her kimono out a large clearing with a waterfall and a spring sash, slipped her kimono off of her shoulders, and then she slowly slid into the hot spring. "Ahhhh... This is what I needed, a nice hot bath" she said swimming over to the waterfall that poured into the springs. Surprisingly, when Kihana swam under the waterfall the water pouring down from it was as warm as the hot spring itself.
As Kihana bathed she looked around the clearing sensing she had been here before. She continued to examine her surroundings with a questioning expression. Then, Kihana heard a rustling in the trees and bushes. She prepared herself for a battle, but then Lady Kaede walked out from the forest. Kihana relaxed once again, "Lady Kaede, you frightened me" she said with a smile on her face, then she realized that she was a demon now. Kihana desperately tried to hide herself from the wise priestess, but failed. "Child, why do you hide yourself? The fact that you are demon or human does not matter to me " the old priestess replied. "OK" Kihana said giving a deep sigh. "Child, why do you come here to bathe instead of our bathhouse?" Kaede questioned as she sat down on a rock next to the spring. "Well, I honestly don't know, I guess something just told me to come here" Kihana answered. "I see. My dear, tell me, does this place seem familiar to you?" the priestess asked again. "Yes, it does. I feel as though I know this place all too well. Like I've been here for years. Also, that tree over there is somewhat familiar as well" Kihana said as she pointed to Inuyasha's tree, she continued, "It's like I lived here... Why do you ask?" "No reason, child. Just come back so you can rest" Kaede said getting up from the rock on which she sat, "Goodnight child." "Goodnight, sleep well Kaede" Kihana said as she watched her friend part for the village.
Inuyasha watched as the old priestess walked out from the forest. He raised a brow and walked over curiously to see where the old lady had been. He followed the priestess into her hut and sat down when she indicated him to do so. "So old woman, what were you doing out in the woods?" Inuyasha questioned. "Inuyasha, must you always be so curious? I am beginning to wonder if you really are a dog demon and not a cat demon. But, to answer your question, I was seeing if your friend Kihana was alright" Kaede solemnly answered as she put her arrows in their proper place. Inuyasha growled agitatedly at the woman's remark, but then settled down to ask yet another question. "So, what'd ya find out?" he asked, "Well, I think she... never mind" Kaede replied. "Go get Kagome and the others, you shall all need to hear this story" She added.
The group gathered as Kaede built the fire up and began her story... "Just years after Kikyo's death a monk and his apprentice came to cleanse the sacred tree. When the two monks got to the tree the master saw a glitter through the trees and told his apprentice to keep chanting the prayer while he checked it out. The man came across a beautiful clearing with an abundance of wildflowers and a hot spring with a waterfall sitting at the bottom of a cliff. The man, being who he was, checked for other people, then he removed his garments and walked into the hot spring. While the man was there the apprentice walked over to spy on his teacher, so that he would be able to blame his teacher for leaving him. Then, a woman appeared standing a few yards away from the edge of the water. She had shimmering raven-black hair and ocean blue eyes and was wearing only a silk cloth over her body. The man looked her over and then invited her in the spring with him. She smiled and walked toward the man, then removed her silk garment as she got into the spring. The apprentice described the woman as extremely beautiful for her young age. Then, the woman allowed the man to be sexual with her then she stopped him. The stranger smiled an almost evil smile and an arrow shot through the man's chest. In fact, it shot right through where a person's soul is to be. The man's blood quickly stained the spring as the woman left the pool and put her garment back on. She then raised one arm and a soul arose from the monk's body. The woman absorbed the soul into her body and then frowned with displeasure as she left." "We found many men afterwards like this. They were found naked in the springs with their chest's pierced with an arrow and the souls taken from them. Some men even kindly gave her the name the Spirit Hunter" Kaede finished. Everyone looked at the ground except for Inuyasha, "How do you know that is what exactly happened?" the hanyou asked. "The monk's apprentice came running to our village and explained what had happened" she answered. "We'll do you know who did this?" Sango asked, "Well, the next day, some villagers and I went to the spot. As the rest searched for anything in the forest around the clearing, I stayed inside the clearing to examine it. While I was there a flash of light appeared beside the spring, I went to see what it was. I found a woman there that exactly fit the monk's description, and she was young like the monk had said, maybe in her early teenage years. She was frozen in an ice crystal, but the strange thing was that the ice was surrounded by a blazing silver fire, and the girl had an essence of Kikyo about her" Kaede explained. "Creepy" Shippo said shaking by Kagome's side. "You're telling me" Kagome replied, "Anyway, goodnight everyone." Kagome said as she left Kaede's hut with Shippo. "Yeah I better be leaving also" Sango said, "Goodnight." "Yes, I should be going as well, goodnight Lady Kaede" Miroku said as he, Sango and Kirara left the hut.
Inuyasha left without saying goodnight to Kaede and wandered into the forest. 'I wonder who that girl was' he thought as he made his way to the sacred tree. He looked around for anyone and heard a splashing noise next to the tree. 'That must be were the clearing is' he thought approaching the trees and looking through them. Then he walked through, keeping close to the trees. 'There's nothing eerie about...' but Inuyasha's thoughts were interrupted as his eyes were attracted to something standing by the spring. As he looked on at the figure before him he examined the figure over as well. Well, the person was a woman for sure, and she definitely just got out of the hot spring (considering that she was naked and drying her hair with a towel) ; her hair was a beautiful dark ocean blue and sea green color. He couldn't see her eyes because her back was to him and her skin was slightly tan, but not so that she looked like she was from a beach. Inuyasha saw her as somewhat familiar, but until he saw her face or heard her voice he couldn't tell who it was.
Please read and review! I want to know if you liked it so far. Do you think the whole Spirit Hunter story was a little too detailed, or should I leave it like it is?