Chapter 10
It didn't take Inuyasha long to "persuade" Soma's parents to let her come over, and before long the search for the name of the elusive herb began. Unfortunately the onset of urgency made Soma somewhat careless in her pursuit, and as the information failed to show itself, the child became even more so.
"Its gotta be around here somewhere!" Soma grumbled in frustration as she tossed various scrolls left and right. Shura was a meticulous record keeper, but her methods of organization were another matter. Soma dug furiously through her mentor's records, but could find no trace of the document she was after.
Soma stood up and took out her frustration on the nearest wall. It was all she could do to keep herself from exploding. In her fit of anger, Soma inadvertently knocked a loose scrap of paper free from its former position tacked on Shura's wall.
"Oh there it is," Soma commented in relief as she picked up and examined the renegade paper. Quickly she darted back to Mia's room to show everyone the information she had found.
"It's called snake weed," Soma said as she held up the paper for everyone to see. On it there was a hand drawn illustration of the aforementioned herb. It was a hideous, tangled vine looking plant. "It's a rare herb that looks bad and tastes even worse," Soma continued "But as the name suggests, it's the only cure for viper poison."
"Where is it found?" Sango asked as she boldly stepped forward. Soma glanced over the paper carefully for a minute as she mentally translated Shura's scribbles.
"It's most common in a place west of here called Fern Heights." Soma announced. Mia covered her face in despair, an act both Soma and Sango failed to notice.
"Alright then, Kirara and I will go and get it, don't you worry."
"It's no good." Came Mia's sorrowed response. "Fern Heights is six days away from here. Even with your demon companion, you'd never make it in time." Soma's eyes widened but she said nothing. As a maturing healer, Soma feared a tragic outcome, but as Shura's friend she refused to give in so quickly.
"Don't give up now Mia. Shura's the strongest person I know. If anyone can pull through this, she can!" Soma sat down on the floor and immediately began to create a list of curative ingredients that could help ease her friend's pain and give her strength to fight the poison. Once she was done, she rose and quickly gathered the remaining information she needed from Shura's notes. When she re-entered Soma addressed the room not as a child, but as a drill sergeant.
"Alright Inuyasha, Miroku, I need you to go and find this mushroom," she said as she handed the half demon a sketch of the item "They grow a few miles away north of here." Inuyasha looked dumbfounded, mostly because he couldn't believe he was taking orders from an eight year old. Miroku had a similar look, but for different reasons.
"Forgive me for asking, but do you really need both of us to gather a single mushroom?" Soma raised an eyebrow.
"Trust me, it will be much easier with two people." Miroku sighed and walked out of the room with Inuyasha muttering behind him. Soma then set her sights the remaining four travelers. "Kagome, Sango, I want you to stay with Shura until I get back from gathering more ingredients. Send Kirara if anything happens understand?"
"Wait a minute what about…" Mia started to say, but Soma stopped her with a stern gaze.
"Mia, I want you to go and get some rest!" Soma paused and looked over as Shippo. "And just to make sure you do, I'm having Shippo be your babysitter." Mia opened her mouth to protest, but Soma would hear none of it. "That's healers orders Mia! Now go, you need some sleep." Mia sighed heavily and slowly got to her feet. As much as she wanted to stay, there was no arguing with Soma. Even at her tender age, the child was a firecracker and would not easily take no for an answer. In any case she did have a point. Slowly Mia left the room with Shippo bounding after her.
Soma slung a large, burlap bag over her shoulder and after giving the two girls explicit instructions on how to care for her friend, she too was off into the breaking dawn.
"Are you sure this is the right way sire?" Jaken questioned his master as the two continued to travel ever closer to a remote human village. Sesshomaru said nothing even though he was milling over the same question himself. Why would his daughter be so careless as to wonder so close to a human settlement? It didn't make sense. Even if she was under the effects of viper venom, surely she knew better then to go stumbling blindly into an area infested with people.
Sesshomaru glanced up when a twig snapped loudly nearby. They were not the only ones headed towards the village. Jaken continued forward with confident steps, completely oblivious to what was approaching until…
Smack! Out of the forest sprinted a young village girl with shoulder length, sandy colored hair and pale blue eyes. Her clothes were ripped in several places, and her bare legs and arms covered with scratches. She was carrying what looked to be very heavy burlap bag over one shoulder. In her haste to return home, the child had failed to notice Jaken in her path and had run strait into him. Dazed and surprised, both the demon and the child cried out in alarm once they saw each other.
Eager to show authority for once, Jaken stepped forward ready to yell at the child, but he stopped short when he realized she was actually bowing to him.
"I'm sorry," the child blurted out quickly "Please forgive me for my rudeness, I didn't mean to show such disrespect." Jaken just stared in bewilderment. For being a human child, this girl was extremely well versed and she seemed unusually comfortable around demons.
"What is a child like you doing out here all by yourself?" Jaken found himself asking. The girl pointed to some small green tendrils growing near Jaken's feet.
"I was gathering herbs for a sick friend back at my village. She was bitten by a viper demon last night."
"Is that so," Sesshomaru commented coldly as he stepped into view. "Serves them right for being so careless." The little child's eyes widened when her gaze fell on the majestic Sesshomaru. Finding herself in the presence of a demon lord, she bowed even lower.
"Please demon lord, it's urgent that I get home right away, so please let me pass unharmed." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Even if she was a human, there would be no benefit to slaying her, at least not at that moment.
"Leave at once, and don't ever cross my path again."
The child nodded her understanding and thanked Sesshomaru for his generosity. But just as she got to her feet the child paused when she noticed a small, wooden box tucked securely under the demon lord's arm. It was not the chest that got her attention, but rather the twisted vine creeping out through a small crack in the lid.
"What are you waiting for!"? Jaken demanded when the youngster failed to move fast enough "My master told you to leave!"
For a brief moment, Soma lost her composure.
"Y….you have snake weed!" she gasped. Sesshomaru turned an impatient eye first on the box, then on the child. Soma took a few cautious steps forward. Her heart pounding in her throat seemed to force the words out with each beat.
""Oh great demon lord, I know I've stretched the limits of your patience….but please….I beg you… please spare some of the herb you carry." Sesshomaru couldn't help but admire the child's fearlessness. Requesting a favor from him was one thing, but asking for two…that was brave, and very foolish.
"Why should I care about your pathetic human friend, their life is of no concern to me." The little girl sank to the ground and lowered herself as much as possible. If what she had already asked didn't kill her, this certainly would.
"You are mistaken sire, my friend is not human, but a demon as you yourself are." The silence that followed was deafening. Soma closed her eyes tightly when the Sesshomaru stepped forward.
"You mean to tell me you know a demon in this area suffering from viper poisoning?" the demon lord's voice was stern, but inside her was both anxious and curious.
"Yes sir." The child answered timidly. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. When he spoke again his tone was firm and commanding.
"Show me."