Part 9 Child's play
Kagome came out to find out what all the shouting was about. What she saw made her pause.
'Are they playing,' She thought
Sure enough Inuyasha and Atria were playing a fast paced game of tag. Shippo was even playing and Inuyasha wasn't complaining. Apparently Inuyasha was 'it'. He had tried running down Atria, but she dodged him every time. He decided to go after Shippo. He tapped Shippo on the head.
"Your it," Inuyasha said
Shippo puffed up and jumped after Atria. She ran towards Inuyasha. She tackled him. He landed face first while she landed on his back.
"Hey no fair," Inuyasha protested
Atria just smiled evilly. She beckoned to Shippo. he came over to her and she whispered something in his ear.
"Hey, What!!" Inuyasha said, "No, No. Let me up now."
"Aw poor Inuyasha," Shippo said
"Now, Now, Shippo. Let's not anger Inuyasha. He might Hurt us," Atria said
She got off of him and did a back flip as he grabbed for her. She was about to escape again when something caught her eye. Because she was distracted she got tackled. She didn't get sat on though because she reached up and pinched Inuyasha's ears.
"Ow. That was not even remotely nice," Inuyasha said as he rubbed his ears
Atria got up and brushed herself off.
"Sorry," she said as rubbed his ears
She stopped when she saw a familiar flash of white. She stopped smiling and ran into the trees. A loud thump and a crack of some kind came from the trees. There was silence for a moment. Then Sesshomaru came out with Atria Next to him. They said nothing but Atria was smiling. No one knew what she had done.
"So, Um, you never really did tell us who you are," Kagome said
"My name is all I can give you," Atria told them
"And that is," Shippo Asked
"Atria," She said
Shippo abandoned his hidey hole to jump onto her shoulder.
"You know you look remarkably like Inuyasha," Shippo whispered.
Atria took a sudden step forward and he fell off. She looked down innocently and said, "Oh I'm sorry."
Miroku came up to take a closer look at her. She watched him and when he got a little to close she was ready. the minute she felt his hand she smacked him. She left a black and blue hand print.
"So, Um, Atria what did you do last night," Kagome said
"What do you mean," Atria asked her.
"I mean you could barely walk yesterday and now your playing with Inuyasha and Beating Miroku and there are no bruises on you," Kagome said
"I really don't know one minute I'm in the hut the next I'm in water," Atria said as she shrugged.
She turned away for a minute and for the first time everyone got a really good look at her back. Everyone but Inuyasha gasped.
"Who did this to you," Sesshomaru asked as he walked up to see the marks closer
"Did what?," She asked. Then she saw what he was looking at and said, "Oh that."
"So who was it," Shippo demanded
"That all depends," She said
"On What," Sango asked
"On whether I want to remember and what day it was," Atria answered
"Tell me," Sesshomaru said in a voice that wasn't demanding but persistent.
Atria sighed and sat down facing them. She cocked her head to the side and thought for a moment.
"ell lets see. If you want the main one that would have to be Naraku, but there had to be about thirty to forty other demons that helped," She said, "Or more," She added as an after thought.
They all just stood there for a moment not sure what to do. Then Shippo jumped up into her lap.
"I'll get him for you," he said valiantly
"That's okay. I'm fully capable of extracting my own revenge. Beside every single one of you have your own reasons to kill him. Don't add mine to yours," She said
"Shippo you have your parent's to avenge, Sango Your Brother, father, and villagers are your reason. Um lets see, Kagome you wanna kill him for many reasons one being the pain he's cause Inuyasha."
Kagome blushed and looked away when Atria said that. Atria continued, "Kaede your reason is your sister Kikyo. Because it might help her find peace and the fact that he killed her," Atria squinted towards Kaede, "I believe it's mostly the latter reason. You," She said Pointing to Miroku, "Want the wind tunnel to go away, in order to do that you need to kill him, Inuyasha you, like Kagome have many reasons, mainly I think it's that he's messing with yours and your friends life," Atria said looking pointedly at Kagome, "and you, Sesshomaru, I believe are the only one without an actually reason to kill him besides the fact that he's a nuisance and annoying as hell," Atria finished
She stood up causing Shippo to fall out of her lap. Her face was expressionless but her voice had started to betray her anger. She noticed that no one was saying anything.
"What," She asked genuinely confused
Miroku, who was still rubbing his cheek explained.
"We've told no one, but each other about our reasons. You were apparently imprisoned or something. SO basically we want to know how you knew all that," He said
"Oh, is that the problem," She said a little relieved, " Well think about it Naraku babbles on a bit and when he took out his frustrations," when she said that a shadow passed through her expression, "He often told me what you had done to foil his latest plan. You'd be surprised what he tells someone he thinks can't talk and he'd be able to control."
Sesshomaru had noticed the shadow that had passed across her face and realized that she wasn't exactly talking to anyone. She was also staring off into space.
"What do you mean control?" he asked trying to get her attention
"Hmm? Oh sorry, What," She said
"What did you mean by control," He repeated
"Oh that," she said. She paused and frowned, "Well he figured that if he did two things he'd be able to use me like one of his puppets. First he'd have to break my spirit then he'd have to use tainted jewel shards," she paused a brief moment then she perked up, "oh and speaking of which."
She looked at her left wrist and ran a claw lightly over it. She stopped at a specific spot and cut in. She reached into the cut and withdrew three objects one at a time. She wiped them off and took a few steps toward Kagome.
"here," Atria said holding the objects in her hand out towards Kagome
"Um," Kagome said
Atria Looked confused. Then she looked slightly annoyed.
"They're jewel shards," Atria said
When Kagome still didn't take them she offered them to Inuyasha. When she realized he wasn't going to take them she grabbed Kagome's hand and dropped them in it. She was getting more annoyed as each minute passed. They were just staring at her.
"What is it. Did I suddenly grow branches or something," She asked loudly
"Um no, but where did you get these shards," Kagome asked looking at them
"I stole them from Naraku the last time I escaped," Atria said calming down slightly
"Um how come I couldn't see them?" Kagome asked
"Don't know the answer to that question," Atria said
"Wait a minute if you got those from Naraku wouldn't they have been tainted," Miroku asked
Atria just shrugged. Then she growled. Everyone turned an saw Kaede heading towards Atria with bandaging for her wrist. Kaede didn't even get within a few feet before Atria started to evade her.
"Ye'll bled to death," Kaede protested
"Will not," Atria Said.
Kaede Advanced on her and Atria Escaped the tree next to the hut.
"You know you'd think anyone with a brain would understand the fact that I wouldn't need their help by now," Atria called from the tree.
Kaede just Hrumphed and left. Once Atria deemed it safe she jumped down.
"so your sure these are real shards," Sango asked
"How would I know. I'm not the expert she is," Atria said pointing to Kagome
Behind them Shippo started yelling.
"Kagome's not gonna like it if you do that," He said
"Oh yeah and what can she do?" Inuyasha Said
"Kagome Help," cried Shippo
Kagome looked at them and yelled "Sit". Inuyasha Slammed into the ground taking Shippo with him.
"how do you do that?" Atria asked
"do what?" Kagome said
"That," Atria said pointing to Inuyasha
"Oh That necklace he's wearing was blessed by Kaede. I say Sit and it pulls Inuyasha to the ground," Kagome explained
"Oh," Atria said
She walked up to Inuyasha. She examined the beads around his neck. his eyes were little slits because he was glaring at Shippo. Atria reached out a finger to touch them then suddenly jerked her hand back. Inuyasha bolted up right. When Atria had touched the beads a large and very audible snap was heard and both of them had been shocked.
"Hey what was that for?" Inuyasha asked
"Sorry. Didn't know that would happen," Atria said as she shook her now numb hand.
"Hope I didn't break it," she said
"Sit," kagome said
When Inuyasha slammed to the ground Kagome chuckled.
"Nope. It's fine," she said
Atria examined her wrist. it was still bleeding. She walked over to a barrel that smelled of salt. She looked in and saw salt water. Without a second thought she stuck her wrist forcibly in to barrel. She hissed and then withdrew her arm. The bleeding had stopped. It hurt now but that didn't matter.
She turned and looked at them. She was just about to suggest another game of tag when she saw where Miroku was looking. She walked up to him and stood about a centimeter away. She addressed him in a very quiet voice
"You know Miroku, I suggest you find something else to look at for awhile," she said, "Or I shall take away any chance of children."
Miroku just swallowed. He took a step back nervously.
"I take it you agree with me," she said
When he just nodded she smiled. She had decided she had had enough for today. She grabbed her bow and disappeared into the woods. Sesshomaru silently followed her.
"What was that about," Sango asked Miroku
"Just a friendly warning," he said slowly.
Sango looked at him. he had apparently recovered form whatever had happened because she soon felt his hand. She smacked him very hard.
When Sesshomaru Came upon her she was already releasing her anger out on a tree. He could only assume the memories had brought the anger. She already had five arrows in a knot on a nearby tree trunk. When she heard him she whirled around and had the bow aimed at him. She released the pressure in the string and lowered her bow. She turned back to the tree and continued to abuse it. There was a rustling in a bush off to the side and before Sesshomaru could blink she had shot and arrow. There came a yelp for the bush and Shippo fell out.
"You almost hit me," he cried
She ignored him and went to retrieve the arrow. Shippo looked at Sesshomaru and Squeaked. Sesshomaru was smiling at him. Shippo decided it was time to leave and he hightailed it back to Kaede's hut.
When She returned all she saw was Sesshomaru. She ignored him once more. She lowered her bow at one point and listened. She aimed at a tree off to the side and released her arrow. A second later the lizard creature was pinned to a tree by his robe.
"Lord Sesshomaru Help," It cried
"Jaken," Sesshomaru sighed
"He's yours," Atria said viciously
"Yes, it pains me to admit it, but yes," he said
Sesshomaru walked over and unpinned Jaken. He handed Atria her arrow. he saw that this had triggered something. She dropped both the arrow and her bow. She sat down with a thump and buried her face in her hands. Seconds later a small noise escaped form her.
*wow talk about a sudden twist of emotions huh.*
Kagome came out to find out what all the shouting was about. What she saw made her pause.
'Are they playing,' She thought
Sure enough Inuyasha and Atria were playing a fast paced game of tag. Shippo was even playing and Inuyasha wasn't complaining. Apparently Inuyasha was 'it'. He had tried running down Atria, but she dodged him every time. He decided to go after Shippo. He tapped Shippo on the head.
"Your it," Inuyasha said
Shippo puffed up and jumped after Atria. She ran towards Inuyasha. She tackled him. He landed face first while she landed on his back.
"Hey no fair," Inuyasha protested
Atria just smiled evilly. She beckoned to Shippo. he came over to her and she whispered something in his ear.
"Hey, What!!" Inuyasha said, "No, No. Let me up now."
"Aw poor Inuyasha," Shippo said
"Now, Now, Shippo. Let's not anger Inuyasha. He might Hurt us," Atria said
She got off of him and did a back flip as he grabbed for her. She was about to escape again when something caught her eye. Because she was distracted she got tackled. She didn't get sat on though because she reached up and pinched Inuyasha's ears.
"Ow. That was not even remotely nice," Inuyasha said as he rubbed his ears
Atria got up and brushed herself off.
"Sorry," she said as rubbed his ears
She stopped when she saw a familiar flash of white. She stopped smiling and ran into the trees. A loud thump and a crack of some kind came from the trees. There was silence for a moment. Then Sesshomaru came out with Atria Next to him. They said nothing but Atria was smiling. No one knew what she had done.
"So, Um, you never really did tell us who you are," Kagome said
"My name is all I can give you," Atria told them
"And that is," Shippo Asked
"Atria," She said
Shippo abandoned his hidey hole to jump onto her shoulder.
"You know you look remarkably like Inuyasha," Shippo whispered.
Atria took a sudden step forward and he fell off. She looked down innocently and said, "Oh I'm sorry."
Miroku came up to take a closer look at her. She watched him and when he got a little to close she was ready. the minute she felt his hand she smacked him. She left a black and blue hand print.
"So, Um, Atria what did you do last night," Kagome said
"What do you mean," Atria asked her.
"I mean you could barely walk yesterday and now your playing with Inuyasha and Beating Miroku and there are no bruises on you," Kagome said
"I really don't know one minute I'm in the hut the next I'm in water," Atria said as she shrugged.
She turned away for a minute and for the first time everyone got a really good look at her back. Everyone but Inuyasha gasped.
"Who did this to you," Sesshomaru asked as he walked up to see the marks closer
"Did what?," She asked. Then she saw what he was looking at and said, "Oh that."
"So who was it," Shippo demanded
"That all depends," She said
"On What," Sango asked
"On whether I want to remember and what day it was," Atria answered
"Tell me," Sesshomaru said in a voice that wasn't demanding but persistent.
Atria sighed and sat down facing them. She cocked her head to the side and thought for a moment.
"ell lets see. If you want the main one that would have to be Naraku, but there had to be about thirty to forty other demons that helped," She said, "Or more," She added as an after thought.
They all just stood there for a moment not sure what to do. Then Shippo jumped up into her lap.
"I'll get him for you," he said valiantly
"That's okay. I'm fully capable of extracting my own revenge. Beside every single one of you have your own reasons to kill him. Don't add mine to yours," She said
"Shippo you have your parent's to avenge, Sango Your Brother, father, and villagers are your reason. Um lets see, Kagome you wanna kill him for many reasons one being the pain he's cause Inuyasha."
Kagome blushed and looked away when Atria said that. Atria continued, "Kaede your reason is your sister Kikyo. Because it might help her find peace and the fact that he killed her," Atria squinted towards Kaede, "I believe it's mostly the latter reason. You," She said Pointing to Miroku, "Want the wind tunnel to go away, in order to do that you need to kill him, Inuyasha you, like Kagome have many reasons, mainly I think it's that he's messing with yours and your friends life," Atria said looking pointedly at Kagome, "and you, Sesshomaru, I believe are the only one without an actually reason to kill him besides the fact that he's a nuisance and annoying as hell," Atria finished
She stood up causing Shippo to fall out of her lap. Her face was expressionless but her voice had started to betray her anger. She noticed that no one was saying anything.
"What," She asked genuinely confused
Miroku, who was still rubbing his cheek explained.
"We've told no one, but each other about our reasons. You were apparently imprisoned or something. SO basically we want to know how you knew all that," He said
"Oh, is that the problem," She said a little relieved, " Well think about it Naraku babbles on a bit and when he took out his frustrations," when she said that a shadow passed through her expression, "He often told me what you had done to foil his latest plan. You'd be surprised what he tells someone he thinks can't talk and he'd be able to control."
Sesshomaru had noticed the shadow that had passed across her face and realized that she wasn't exactly talking to anyone. She was also staring off into space.
"What do you mean control?" he asked trying to get her attention
"Hmm? Oh sorry, What," She said
"What did you mean by control," He repeated
"Oh that," she said. She paused and frowned, "Well he figured that if he did two things he'd be able to use me like one of his puppets. First he'd have to break my spirit then he'd have to use tainted jewel shards," she paused a brief moment then she perked up, "oh and speaking of which."
She looked at her left wrist and ran a claw lightly over it. She stopped at a specific spot and cut in. She reached into the cut and withdrew three objects one at a time. She wiped them off and took a few steps toward Kagome.
"here," Atria said holding the objects in her hand out towards Kagome
"Um," Kagome said
Atria Looked confused. Then she looked slightly annoyed.
"They're jewel shards," Atria said
When Kagome still didn't take them she offered them to Inuyasha. When she realized he wasn't going to take them she grabbed Kagome's hand and dropped them in it. She was getting more annoyed as each minute passed. They were just staring at her.
"What is it. Did I suddenly grow branches or something," She asked loudly
"Um no, but where did you get these shards," Kagome asked looking at them
"I stole them from Naraku the last time I escaped," Atria said calming down slightly
"Um how come I couldn't see them?" Kagome asked
"Don't know the answer to that question," Atria said
"Wait a minute if you got those from Naraku wouldn't they have been tainted," Miroku asked
Atria just shrugged. Then she growled. Everyone turned an saw Kaede heading towards Atria with bandaging for her wrist. Kaede didn't even get within a few feet before Atria started to evade her.
"Ye'll bled to death," Kaede protested
"Will not," Atria Said.
Kaede Advanced on her and Atria Escaped the tree next to the hut.
"You know you'd think anyone with a brain would understand the fact that I wouldn't need their help by now," Atria called from the tree.
Kaede just Hrumphed and left. Once Atria deemed it safe she jumped down.
"so your sure these are real shards," Sango asked
"How would I know. I'm not the expert she is," Atria said pointing to Kagome
Behind them Shippo started yelling.
"Kagome's not gonna like it if you do that," He said
"Oh yeah and what can she do?" Inuyasha Said
"Kagome Help," cried Shippo
Kagome looked at them and yelled "Sit". Inuyasha Slammed into the ground taking Shippo with him.
"how do you do that?" Atria asked
"do what?" Kagome said
"That," Atria said pointing to Inuyasha
"Oh That necklace he's wearing was blessed by Kaede. I say Sit and it pulls Inuyasha to the ground," Kagome explained
"Oh," Atria said
She walked up to Inuyasha. She examined the beads around his neck. his eyes were little slits because he was glaring at Shippo. Atria reached out a finger to touch them then suddenly jerked her hand back. Inuyasha bolted up right. When Atria had touched the beads a large and very audible snap was heard and both of them had been shocked.
"Hey what was that for?" Inuyasha asked
"Sorry. Didn't know that would happen," Atria said as she shook her now numb hand.
"Hope I didn't break it," she said
"Sit," kagome said
When Inuyasha slammed to the ground Kagome chuckled.
"Nope. It's fine," she said
Atria examined her wrist. it was still bleeding. She walked over to a barrel that smelled of salt. She looked in and saw salt water. Without a second thought she stuck her wrist forcibly in to barrel. She hissed and then withdrew her arm. The bleeding had stopped. It hurt now but that didn't matter.
She turned and looked at them. She was just about to suggest another game of tag when she saw where Miroku was looking. She walked up to him and stood about a centimeter away. She addressed him in a very quiet voice
"You know Miroku, I suggest you find something else to look at for awhile," she said, "Or I shall take away any chance of children."
Miroku just swallowed. He took a step back nervously.
"I take it you agree with me," she said
When he just nodded she smiled. She had decided she had had enough for today. She grabbed her bow and disappeared into the woods. Sesshomaru silently followed her.
"What was that about," Sango asked Miroku
"Just a friendly warning," he said slowly.
Sango looked at him. he had apparently recovered form whatever had happened because she soon felt his hand. She smacked him very hard.
When Sesshomaru Came upon her she was already releasing her anger out on a tree. He could only assume the memories had brought the anger. She already had five arrows in a knot on a nearby tree trunk. When she heard him she whirled around and had the bow aimed at him. She released the pressure in the string and lowered her bow. She turned back to the tree and continued to abuse it. There was a rustling in a bush off to the side and before Sesshomaru could blink she had shot and arrow. There came a yelp for the bush and Shippo fell out.
"You almost hit me," he cried
She ignored him and went to retrieve the arrow. Shippo looked at Sesshomaru and Squeaked. Sesshomaru was smiling at him. Shippo decided it was time to leave and he hightailed it back to Kaede's hut.
When She returned all she saw was Sesshomaru. She ignored him once more. She lowered her bow at one point and listened. She aimed at a tree off to the side and released her arrow. A second later the lizard creature was pinned to a tree by his robe.
"Lord Sesshomaru Help," It cried
"Jaken," Sesshomaru sighed
"He's yours," Atria said viciously
"Yes, it pains me to admit it, but yes," he said
Sesshomaru walked over and unpinned Jaken. He handed Atria her arrow. he saw that this had triggered something. She dropped both the arrow and her bow. She sat down with a thump and buried her face in her hands. Seconds later a small noise escaped form her.
*wow talk about a sudden twist of emotions huh.*