Chapter 7
The sky was beginning to grow dark outside as Shura returned with a fresh platter of food. After serving her guests she herself sat down and watched them eat with calm satisfaction. An angry growl from Kirara made everyone look up in surprise. The cat demon was clearly unhappy with Shura's presence, and was approaching her with fur raised. Shura glanced first at the feisty demon approaching her, then at the animal's owner. Sango was watching her friend's behavior with interest instead of concern. Kirara never acted that way around strangers unless they were somehow threatening, and Sango was curious to know why her furry friend had targeted their hostess. Was it simply because she could sense Shura disliked demon slayers, or was there something more involved. Inuyasha was as anxious as Kirara, and he portrayed his feelings just as directly.
"What's the matter Kirara, something not smell right?" Inuyasha glanced over at Shura to see her reaction, but he wasn't in for much luck. Shura's expression didn't change; she was still calm and unwavering. Kagome however was appalled by the half demon's lack of manners.
"Inuyasha!" she scolded angrily, but Inuyasha ignored her. Kagome started to apologize for Inuyasha's rudeness but Shura raised a hand and quieted her.
"It's okay. Inuyasha's probably right, something about my scent must be bothering her." That was an understatement. Shura had a hunch that Kirara could not only smell her demon scent, but the animal could also see through her human disguise. It was a trait common to most cat type demons; their gaze was powerful enough to see through enchantments and they were often immune to most magic charms and spells. Shura smiled lightly and reached over towards her guests' tray of food. On the far corner closest to her was a bowl of cream she had brought specifically for Sango's demon friend. Lifting the bowl carefully, Shura placed it in front of Kirara. The cat demon stopped snarling and looked up in bewilderment. She sniffed lightly at the offering and glanced at Shura as if to ask "is this for me?" Shura nodded and edged the dish closer. Kirara let out a happy meow and started to lap up the cream.
"There now, you see. I'm not your enemy, you have nothing to worry about." Shura crooned reassuringly as Kirara continued to eat. Hopefully now, the animal would realize that she was a friendly inhabitant, not her demon prey.
A loud creek in the floorboards and the sound of someone creeping elsewhere in the inn put Kirara suddenly on alert. Inuyasha had heard the sound too and quickly rose to his feet. Even though she too had detected the intruder Shura continued to play up her human role and ignored her impulses to investigate.
"Something wrong?" Shura inquired, to make herself even less conspicuous. Inuyasha glanced at her suspiciously before he answered.
"They'res something here."
"What!" Kagome asked anxiously "the demon?" Drawing his sword, Inuyasha walked over to the doorway and poked his head into the hall. There was no trace of anyone.
"Maybe it was your imagination." Miroku suggested with a gentle shrug of his shoulders. Inuyasha reentered the room, an annoyed look on his face.
"I'm not imagining things…I heard someone…." Suddenly Inuyasha tensed "There!" with a sharp turn, Inuyasha swung out his sword. The blade stopped inches away from the face of a small, wide-eyed child.
"Great job Inuyasha" Kagome teased when she saw the baffled look on her companions face "Can't even tell the difference between demons and small children!" Inuyasha grunted and put away his sword, as the remaining members of the team started to laugh. Terror stricken the young girl ran into the room and threw herself into Shura's arms.
"Soma!" Shura scolded sternly "You know better then to come here alone at night, especially when they'res a demon on the loose!"
"You know her?" Kagome inquired as she glanced at the youngster huddling in Shura's arms.
"Soma is my very young apprentice," Shura replied, then she once again directed her voice to the little girl "who has made a habit of coming here when she's not supposed to." Soma glanced up at Shura with tearing, sapphire eyes.
"Please don't be mad," she whined. Shura was about ready to excuse herself and escort the child home when she noticed a dark bruise under one of Soma's eyes. Resting a hand under the girl's chin, Shura tilted her face in different directions and found more bruises.
"Your face…Soma what happened?" Soma bit her lip and looked away in shame. "Soma…" Shura repeated more insistently. The child sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes with her wrist before she finally answered.
"I got in a fight." Shura shook her head in disapproval.
"With who? Was it the Koto brothers again?" the little child nodded. Disappointment hung heavy in Shura's eyes. Arguments were almost mandatory when those two troublemakers were involved, but she had hoped Soma would have more self-control. The child saw Shura's unhappiness and tried to explain herself.
"I did it for you! This time they called you a monster! I couldn't let them insult you like that!" Shura silenced the child with a hand gesture and tucked her gently in her arms. She admired her young charge's devotion, but not when it reached a point like this.
"Soma listen to me," Shura said, her voice soft and compassionate "I know you were trying to help, but it's not your responsibility to defend my name." Soma crossed her arms and started to pout.
"But I was just doing what you told me to do," she protested. "I was standing up for something I believe in." Shura patted the child's head. It seemed that Soma was taking her lessons too much to heart.
"Yes but you mustn't try and force your beliefs on others. They're entitled to their opinions too. And even if they're not the same as yours, that doesn't make them wrong…understand." Soma sighed and nodded. The sounds of more footsteps elsewhere in the building made Soma whine.
"It's probably my parents. They're gonna be so mad when they find out I'm here."
"With good reason. " Shura once again reminded her. The two sighed in unison. Neither was looking forward to explaining matters to Soma's parents. Soma for obvious reasons, and Shura because unlike their clever, if not sometimes over protective daughter, the rest of the family despised her in every way imaginable. Soma's mother and father were horrified when the leader Yama had allowed Mia to adopt her in the first place, and even more so when their only daughter decided to train as a healer and ended up befriending her in the process. The cause of their hatred was their fear and the cause of that was, naturally, her demon heritage. The fact that she was also an avid sorceress only made their judgments worse. Soma's parents were not shy about blaming Shura for accidents or mistakes that occurred around the village, and they made sure to do so whenever possible in the hopes that one day, she'd be exiled or even lynched. But it was not their attitude towards her that bothered Shura most; it was the fact that they often took out their aggressions on her mother and even Soma.
Shura listened as the familiar angry bellow of Soma's father echoed through the walls. He was in a bitter mood, and that was never a good sign. Soma clung tightly to Shura's kimono. Her father's shout could be heard clearly even from their location at the opposite end of the building. Leaning down Shura whispered lightly into her charge's ear.
"We'd better go meet him before he frightens my guests" Soma couldn't resist a giggle at the very truthful remark. Slowly Shura rose and both she and Soma bowed graciously to Inuyasha and the others.
"If you will please excuse me, I have some…business to attend to. I will return shortly." Shura turned and headed towards the door with Soma in toe and very soon the pair had left their sight.
Silently the group listened as the enraged father's voice went from loud to deafening. No one needed demon senses to hear the conversation as it continued to be transmitted through the walls with surprising clarity.
"Rya," the father growled to his wife "take Soma home, I'll have a talk with her later." Rya, just as furious as her husband, started to leave the building. Her voice could also be heard clearly as she stormed away, dragging Soma behind her.
"Don't you give me that look young lady!" she commanded "You had us worried sick! Just wait until we get home…" Rya's lecture trailed off as she walked outside and slammed the door behind her. With his wife and daughter no longer present, Soma's father raged on even louder then before. Inuyasha had to cover his sensitive ears just to make the volume bearable. "This is the last straw Mia!" The man was shouting, "That monster of yours has to go! She's a bad influence on my daughter and a danger to this town!" Though not as outspoken as Soma's father, the innkeeper was rightfully upset by his remarks.
"A danger! How dare you say such things!" she cried "Shura's dedicated her life to saving those of others, she's worked miracles for this place!"
"She's the reason demons keep coming here…they swarm to her like hornets in a hive, and yet you say she's helping us!"
"With all due respect sir," Shura's composed voice suddenly intervened, "the least you could do is criticize me by name." There was a pause, as if Shura's voice suddenly rendered the enraged father speechless. When he finally did speak again it was directly to Shura. His words were cold and dangerous.
"Now you listen here you white haired witch," he snarled, "I don't care if you are the towns' healer. I won't rest until you're dragged into the depths of hell and its beasts have feasted on your carcass!" Shura's response was casually spoken, but her true feelings were evident.
"Is that right, well then I'll be sure to put a word in for you while I'm there." The sound of Soma's father stomping out the door was followed quickly with the echo of Mia's sharp slap.
"Shura! Don't you ever talk like that!" Shura sighed deeply.
"Sorry mother. It won't happen again."
Once more there was the sound of footsteps as Shura ventured back to her guests. When she appeared in the doorway, her face was paler then usual except for one cheek which was slightly red. Nursing her tender cheek Shura sat down and breathed out an immense sigh. Even her composed face could not hide the anguish that tore at her insides. Kirara sensed her distress as much as the others and she quickly bounded into Shura's lap to act as a comfort. As she stroked the little demon behind the ears, Shura noted her guests' stares, and the worry they carried in their expressions on her behalf.
"Please, don't concern yourselves with me." Shura tried to wave off their pity with a reassuring tone. No good, her attempt only managed to turn the groups worry into anger.
"I can't believe that guy!" Kagome finally blurted out, her temper flaring, "How dare he say things like that about you!" the others nodded in agreement. Shura shrugged her shoulders lightly.
"A few of Mr. Tye's choice selections from a much longer list I assure you." she remarked sadly.
"What's this guy have against you anyway?" Inuyasha inquired in his usual sassy tone. Shura glanced first at the half demon, then lowered her eyes and stared at Kirara who had started to purr. If only he knew.
"Outsiders like myself aren't really welcome here." Shura finally answered. It wasn't the exact reason, but her words were true enough. Inuyasha felt a slight stab of pity for Shura. He knew the pain she had tried to numb herself too far to well.
"I know that feeling," he grumbled softly. Miroku cleared his throat and posed what would seem an obvious question.
"So why are you sticking around if they treat you like that?"
"I'm the only skilled healer around this area and my mother needs me here to help run the inn." Shura replied "Besides, it would break her heart if I left…." Shura's voice trailed off when she noticed faint red stripes appearing on her wrists. Her spell of deception was starting to ware off. Suddenly nervous Shura plucked Kirara from her lap and rose to her feet.
"Well it's getting late and seeing as how Mr. Tye has probably woken up the entire town with his shouting," Shura paused to pull down her sleeves "I don't think you'll be seeing any demons tonight." Shura gathered up the remains of the empty dishes and headed towards the door. "If you don't mind, I'm going to retire for the night. My room is the last door on the left. If you need anything, just knock." With that said, Shura briskly made her exit. She hated to be so abrupt, but without any covering, her demon features would soon be exposed, and that probably wouldn't go over well.