Akida- Alright a few things about the last chapter. Yes that conversation about the demon human thing was a little strange, and I've been trying my darndest to figure out where that came from. O.o Anyways, I got a review that pointed out that Miroku's part of the story was barely written about. I did that on purpose. The reason being that every now and then, the main focus of a story has to let the fuzzy faces in the background have their chance. But besides that, I needed a place to build on the few characters just placed into the story. But no need to fret, there will be plenty of pain and torture to Miroku in chapters to come I promise you that.
-:-Disclaimer-:- Well I don't own Inuyasha at all....and since I only have about $5.03 I guess purchasing any rights to the series is outta the question.....
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Sango stole a glance at the monk and smiled beside herself. After he was cured he would be back to his usual hentai antics, and the exterminator felt she would be more at ease once he was the way he used to be. Urging Kirara to speed up her pace, she watched the first few glimpses of a civilization devoted to the help of others whiz by her, and reflected on the long hard journey they had taken to get here.
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"Wow your right Inu-chan! This is a lot faster than walking!"
"Yeah, yeah whatever. And even if we did keep walking, I think you'd have killed yourself tripping all over the place like you were......clumsy idiot."
The dog demon whipped through the ceiling of green foliage, springing deftly from limb to limb, tree trunk to tree trunk, as if he were running normally on the ground far below them.
Finally they were getting somewhere.
For the first hour of their trek towards Shizen, Sai continued his 'trip' 'get up' trip again' routine until Inuyasha was sure he was covered from head to toe in scuffs, scraps, and mild bruises. He then agreed to carrying him as he had done numerous times with Kagome to 1. speed up their traveling speed, and 2. so that Sai wouldn't maim himself on the next object he stumbled blindly over.
He couldn't really believe that this man was the Healer that could save Miroku, never mind keeping himself from harms reach. He let the thought pass. He didn't need his head clouded with jumbled doubts at a time like this.
"You know Inu-chan, its so nice of you to carry me like this," Sai sounded cheerfully from over his shoulder. "I really don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up--"
"Why do you keep calling me that?!"
"Calling you what?"
"Inu-chan!!"
Sai thought this over for a moment and came up with the only solution his sweet fluff filled mind could work up.
"Well.... I don't know....I guess that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw those cute fuzzy doggie ears of yours ^.^"
Dog boy twitched an eyebrow.
"You better pray that that was just a joke you klutz or I'll tear your--"
"Say Inu-chan can I rub your ears?"
"Don't you dare touch me!! And if you try it I'll eat your hands off!"
"Waaaaah! You said you weren't gonna hurt me!" Sai whined through large watery eyes. Images of slow roasting food played in his head, a fountain of tears streamed down his face.
"Oh for the love of..." Inuyasha sighed rolling his eyes.
They continued on at a break neck pace as the landscape continued to be nothing but treetops as far as he could see. At length, Inuyasha noticed that the trees were becoming sparse and left the high branches to travel the rest of the way upon the earth. He looked ahead past the rapidly thinning forest, and continued on until a closely knit mountain pass engulfed him and his passenger. The sheer, smooth walls on either side of the path shoot up around him, and he felt the air pack tighter inside its narrow sides and press against him.
Glancing at the ruins scattered around and above him, he felt like he was traveling through multitudes of cultures all in an instant. Never had he seen so many varieties of stone works and structures in one place, and he wondered what the story behind all this was. A few structures he recognized to be old remnants of their native country of Japan, but these were significantly sparse in comparison to their foreign neighbors.
"This place is called the Road of Worlds, " Sai said suddenly as if reading his thoughts. "A long time ago there were many different races gathered here in a kind of Utopia-like society. But as always it didn't work out. War soon tore this land apart, and this is all that's left of the ancient ones, but their tales still remain embedded in these ruins for all the world to see."
"Heh that figures, you humans will start wars over just about anything. Just like rodents fighting over a bread crumb," Inuyasha remarked scornfully.
"Hn you think so? Because I can easily say the same about the race of demons," Sai replied smoothly.
Inuyasha gave him a sidelong glare and was about to make a nasty comment, when the healer pointed out a towering soundly carved pole with its glistening sun-like object, and long red cloth.
"Aha! Just what I was looking for. We put those markers up to let travelers know that our village wasn't too far off........but," he trailed off watching the markers whiz by. "I really wasn't expecting them to show up so quickly! We've made excellent progress Inu-chan, we'll be there in no time! Now I can help your friend sooner than I expected."
Inuyasha replied with a simple 'hmph' and decided to change the topic.
"Not that I care or anything, but are there more roads than just this one?"
"Oh yes many more," Sai replied enthusiastically delighted to have the chance to talk about something he knew. "There are many other roads besides this one. A few lead to Shizen, and a few lead to other places in the mountains. Its like a maze around here so we set up the markers with red cloth indicating that those roads lead to Shizen, and the markers with blue cloth for those leading to shrines and temples. I think there are other colored markers, but I'm not sure about why their there let alone where they are."
"So I guess you can get lost pretty easily eh?"
"Mmm hmm," Sai said pleased with his knowledge of the area. "But I guess it wouldn't matter to someone like you Inu-chan. All you'd have to do is follow your nose!"
Inuyasha grumbled something inaudible but let the canine pun slide.
Almost instantly the path dropped off from view, and opened into another immense meadow of tall grass and ash white rocks. Inuyasha squinted into the distance as something caught his eye. Through the mountain mists, he could barely make out a large structure, and took a sharp breath saying:
"Is that...?"
"Yup yup Inu-chan, that's the Healers village Shizen, and also the place I proudly call home." he replied grinning gleefully.
Inuyasha continued on picking up the pace, more so that he could get this healer to Miroku, and also because he wanted to be sure his companions had arrived there safely. He looked to the left as an object flew past, and registered it as a small cottage, able to shelter a family of four. A few more of these whipped by, and he observed that if there were people outside of those shelters, they didn't cower in fear like most humans. They seemed to regard him as just a passing traveler, and a few even waved as he flew by in a blur of white and red.
Inuyasha began to put what he'd seen to thought when Sai wrapped an arm around his neck, and clenched a fistful of his red cloak in his free hand. He felt the healers head press gently against his neck, and he sensed a wave of sudden fatigue emanating from the healer.
"Sai," he yelled over the howling winds. "You alright?"
He didn't answer for a while, but eventually he managed to reply:
"H-Hai I'm fine Inu-chan.....I guess I'm not used to this kind of travel," he replied forcing a smile into his voice.
Inuyasha wasn't fooled. He knew there was more to it than that, but he let it go for now. He didn't have the time to be asking things of him, he needed to concentrate on getting him to Shizen as soon as possible.
Were almost there Sai....just don't do anything stupid like pass out on my back....
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"Looking for Sai's residence are ye?"
"Yes, its very urgent that we see this healer, we've been sent by one who knows him...um...her?...very well."
"Well there are many who know of the Great Healer Sai, but that don't mean anythin' now do it?"
Sango gritted her teeth in impatience. She tried her best not to glare holes into the short old woman who she was interrogating. Her sharp features resembled that of an old crow, and her eyes regarded the exterminator as if she were a heathen.
She had thought things would be easier when they had entered the city, but truth be told they weren't getting anywhere. They'd tried to find the healers residence, but they ended up lost and somehow wandered into a busy area of the city, possibly a market place of sorts. She had her friends wait under the shade of a large tree so Miroku's already furnace like body wouldn't overheat anymore than it already had.
Sango spotted an old woman standing behind a wooden sales counter lined with multicolored fabrics. She'd gone over to ask directions and soon found that opening clam shells was easier to do, than get a hint of where they were out of this woman.
"Please, I have a friend that's very ill and I need to get him to a healer. There's a possibility that he might die."
"Were all going to die anyway aren't we!? Why should it matter to me if a perfect stranger pass on eh?"
"Excuse me?!" Sango shrieked. "How can you say something like that! Besides it isn't like I'm asking you to move a freakin' mountain! I'm just asking for directions I don't think it would kill you to give some directions woman--!"
"Don't you get smart with me young lady!!" The old woman snapped jabbing a knobby finger at Sango. "You've got no idea what Master Sai's going through, and right now he doesn't need you or anyone else bothering him with pleas for healing!! The best thing for him now is rest and nothing else! So you just take your sassy little self out of my sight, because I'm not telling you anything!"
"You.....You stubborn old hag!!! I'll hang you upside down by your toenails if that's what it takes to get you talking!!" Sango yelled clenching her fists until she was sure cuts would appear from digging her fingernails into her skin.
"Oh just forget about it Sango-san," Shippo growled from over her shoulder. "We're wasting out time trying to reason with this fossil. Lets just go already."
The old woman shot a surprised and insulted look at the fox child.
"Fossil!? Why I never! You insolent little...."
Just when Sango was seriously considering throttling the old woman, a tall man with dusty black hair and a greenish-blue yukata came from one side carrying a tight bundle of the same fabric being sold at that stand. He looked from the exterminator to the old woman, then let out a long sigh shaking his head.
"Mom....are you harassing my customers again?" he said dropping the bundle on a mat near the stand, and waved a hand to silence any protests from her. Turning to Sango and Shippo he smiled warmly said:
"Gomen ne, I hope she didn't trouble you too much, she doesn't take too well to travelers and the like. Now then," he said crossing his arms. "what can I do for you? Here to browse or buy?"
Sango shook her head and said: "No we need directions. We need to find a healer named Sai....I have a friend that's very ill.....and his conditions already gotten worse. I was sent here another such person saying that this healer may be the only person that can help him now."
"Ah I see, here to see our famous healer eh?" He said raising his eyebrows. "Eh, well who doesn't want to see him. Now then to get to his place, you go straight down this road to my right here.......hush momma......and you'll come to a fork in the road where a willow tree grows. Take the left path all the way up the hill and you'll be there."
"Thank you very much," Sango said taking a step back and bowed. "You don't know how helpful you've been."
The man merely grinned and bowed in return, watched as she ran over to the tree to confer with her odd assembly of companions.
"You! Why did you tell them!" His mother cried.
"Because I know Master Sai cares more about the lives of others than his own, and despite what may happen to him as long as he can still help people in need he'll be happy. That's just how he is," he said staring at the ground sadly. His mother said nothing more, and knelt to untangle the heap of fabric on the floor, a pained look of worry etched into her bird face.
Sango cast a glance behind her silently thanking the man as his stand was enveloped by the crowd, then turned her attention to the group. Her eyes darted as she tried to figure out what was out of place.
"Kagami? Where's Kagami-sama?" She said turning around and scanning the meshed crowd of heads.
"Don't worry," Kagome stood brushed off her skirt. "Kagami-sama said she'd gotten a report that Sai had left Shizen a while ago, and she said he might return so she said to go on ahead without her. I'm guessing she's going to wait for him," she said with a shrug.
"Hmm...not a bad idea, I just hope this healer guy gets here soon."
With a nod from both of them, their troupe gathered themselves and moved on. Sango and Kagome ran on foot seeing as there was no need to burden the fire cat with their weight any longer, much to Kirara's approval. Sango noticed that the people in the crowds they passed were fairly diverse. She could have sworn a few times that she'd seen a demon lurking about, but dismissed it as a trick of fatigue.
I've got more important things to worry about right now. She
thought picking up the pace.
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A lone figure stood far ahead from the gates of Shizen, wrapped in a brown travel worn cloak. Sharp eyes peered out through the hood, and locked onto a flurry of white and red that bobbed in and out of the mountain mist. The stallion to her right straightened its ears as it too noticed the motion, and shifted its weight lazily.
As it approached a darker shade of red clung to the lighter shade, and a blue line whipped wildly as the winds played with it.
Smiling slightly the figure raised a hand and waved to the oncoming red blurs, and recognized the deep crimson robe and blue sash of their famed healer. Breaking through the mists obstructive to the sight a white haired dog demon appeared, possibly a half-breed from closer inspection, and Shizen's healer: Sai.
Kagami threw back her hood as she approached, and bowed slightly saying:
"Its wonderful to see you again Master Sai, you've come not a moment too late."
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Inuyasha had seen the figure not too far ahead, and tensed himself for a possible confrontation. He'd run all this way to the Healers Village, and he'd be damned if some fool was going to get in his way now that he'd finally reached it.
Putting the idea of 'strike your enemy before they strike you first' into effect he was about to claw straight through that person, until it raised a hand and waved to them. He felt Sai release one hand to make a returning wave, and guessed he knew this person.
As he skidded to a halt the stranger threw back the hood, revealing a dark skinned black haired woman with olive eyes. She was a lot taller than Inuyasha had expected, and he had to incline his head a little to study her strong yet gentle face. She smiled and said:
"Its wonderful to see you again Master Sai, you've come not a moment too late."
Sai answered removing himself from Inuyasha's back: "Well that's a good thing to hear. I've returned to give aid to another ailing person, and it seems this time its a bit more urgent than most cases."
"Hey!" Inuyasha interrupted trying to keep a civilized tone. "Have you seen a group of people pass by here? There's a girl with black hair dressed in green and white, another girl ridding a large cat, a kitsune, and a half-dead monk dressed in purple and black. Did they come here by any chance?"
"Oh," Kagami said looking over her shoulder to the city. "Then I guess that group I was traveling with, must be the very same people your searching for. Yes, they've arrived here safely with my assistance and I've already sent them to your residence Master Sai," she said turning to the healer.
"Oh! Well I'd better get going, wouldn't want to keep them waiting." He said cheerfully, but his tired face told a different story. Kagami didn't miss that.
"I'd be wise to travel the rest of the way on my horse Master Sai," she said softly placing an arm around his shoulders. He looked up at her and nodded knowing an argument would be useless, and allowed her to help him up.
"Lets move quickly," she said swinging up onto the auburn stallion behind Sai. "They should be there soon, and I'm not sure how long that man can wait."
Inuyasha's expression darkened momentarily before darting off after the horse, warding off the thought of losing that hentai priest now. From that point on, time seemed to be moving too slowly for him, and it felt like an eternity had passed when they had finally made their way through the city gates.
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Akida-Phew! Finally I updated eh? I hope you all haven't grown cobwebs in your joints from waiting. In any case please review and tell me how this chapter turned out, because writers block is a darn evil thing it tis.