Chapter four
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[A/N: Hope I answered some questions in this one. Lemme know if yer still confused bout something.]
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Japanese:
Kanshisha: Guardian
Yamauba: Mountain witch.
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Tenshi sat by the fire in the witch's hut, a empty soup bowl sat beside her. Behind her the injured 'beast' lay, still unconscious. Tenshi had finally gotten the witch to help her move him, actually she had gotten a horse and a stretcher but it was better than nothing. Gently dragging him onto the stretcher, Tenshi had been amazed at how light he was. Like air, only this air has a little weight to it. Tenshi looked across the fire at the old witch.
'Hey, if I ask you some questions are you gonna answer me?' Tenshi asked her.
'What do ye what to know?' The witch replied.
Tenshi held up a finger. 'One: names. Yours and his. What are they?'
'I am called Yamauba. And the beast is called Juuroumaru.'
Tenshi nodded. 'Ok. Two: Who whopped his ass?'
'Whopped?' The witch asked confused.
'Uh, yeah. Kicked, beat-up…….who injured him?' Tenshi explained.
'Ah, his name is Inuyasha. His sword the Tetsusagia unleashed a powerful attack upon the beast injuring him. I placed a spell on him so that he would survive.'
'Um, does this Inuyasha have doggy ears?' Tenshi asked.
'Hai, you have met him. Bear him no ill will though. He was defending himself against the beast's attacks. Juuroumaru was under the control of Kageroumaru, who was under the control of a half demon named Naraku.' Yamauba explained.
Tenshi thought this over. 'So, how come that voice thingy asked me to come here?'
'Because ye are the beast's keeper. His Kanshisha.'
'Huh?'
Yamauba sighed. 'You. Are. Juuroumaru's. Kanshisha.'
Tenshi glared. 'I got that. Why am I his keeper and what do I do with him?'
'For now you heal him.'
'And then….?'
'I will let you know when the time is right.' Yamauba said.
Tenshi sighed. 'Look this is great and everything, but I have to be getting home.'
'You do not belong in that world. You merely resided there until I had need of ye.'
'What'da you mean by that?' Tenshi demanded.
'You were created to be Juuroumaru's Shugotenshi. Granted you where born in the future, I had no control over that. But you were to return here when the time was right. And Juuroumaru needs you. You are more or less his unofficial mate.' Yamauba explained to the goth teen sitting across from her.
'So, I can't go back?' Tenshi asked.
'Nope.' Yamauba replied rising. 'I am going to bed now child. You may sleep out here. Keep watch on your charge. I doubt he will wake anytime soon, but keep a watch on him anyhow.' With that Yamauba disappeared into the other room.
Tenshi looked down at the lavender haired demon. 'Well, looks like I'm stuck with you.' Tenshi reached down and brushed away a few lose strands of hair that had fallen onto his face. Tenshi sighed. "Well, at least your good-looking." Tenshi thought as she lay down between him and the fire.
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The next morning Tenshi found Yamauba in her herb garden. It was daylight and she could get a better look at the old witch. Yamauba had long grey hair wrapped up in a bun with chopsticks to hold it in place. She wore a white and grey miko's outfit and a smokey grey crystal hung on a silver chain around her neck. Tenshi walked over to her and sat down. 'You said that Juuroumaru was a demon, right?' Tenshi asked.
'Hai.' Yamauba replied.
'What kind of demon?' Tenshi asked her.
'His species is unknown, however he is quite fast. Originally he housed the demon Kageroumaru and that was it. Now that he is free of Naraku I know not what he is to become.' Yamauba answered.
'Um…..housed?' Tenshi asked confused.
'Hmmm, he is an empty shell. That is why he is so light. The demon Kageroumaru lived in his stomach and Juuroumaru wore a special muzzle over his mouth to keep the thing from escaping.'
Tenshi made a face of disgust. 'Ewwww! So, what he's kinda like….a corpse?'
'More like a shell of flesh and bone. The herbs and spells I use on him will re-grow what has been lost.'
'Ugh, more than I needed to know.' Tenshi said holding her stomach.
Yamauba looked over at her with a frown. 'Are ye to weak to stomach it?' She asked.
Tenshi made a face, sticking her tongue out. 'Just so long as I don't have to see it first hand, I'm fine.'
Yamauba huffed and headed back to the hut.
Tenshi watched her go. 'What? Sheech.'
{End}